At least five people have died and six others were injured in a gas pipeline explosion near southwest Ahvaz city of Iran.

Ahvaz governor, Jamal Alemi Neisi said, gas pipes blew up about 200 metres from the road, destroying four vehicles that were passing by. He added it was not a terrorist act or sabotage, and was rather caused by a gas leak.

Local media reported that the fire at the site of the explosion has been extinguished.

Ahvaz is the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan province on the border with Iraq.