Pakistan's Interior Ministry has said that 38 persons including two foreigners have been killed in a suicide attack on a five-star hotel in the capital.

The ministry, in a statement issued Sunday, said that Saturday's suicide blast injured some 257 persons including 21 foreigners.The country has been put on red alert after the suicide blast, thestatement said.

On the other hand, fire has still not gone out completely and sheer heat is coming out of the devastated hotel building with thetemperature climbing up to 400 centigrade. The hotel has been sealed off.

The interior ministry feared that there were still a few people trapped under the debris of the hotel which was completely destroyed after the blast.

Pakistani volunteers carry a body of a blast victim outside the burning facade of The Marriott Hotel in Islamabad on Saturday evening. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

The Marriott Hotel, a landmark building in the Pakistan capital, is the preferred hotel of visiting diplomats and businessmen.

The security has been put on alert across the country after the serious blast. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani condemned the blast.

The blast came just hours after Zardari vowed to firmly fight against terrorism and extremism while addressing a joint session of the parliament.