An explosion in a gas pipeline near Iran's northeastern city of Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province, injured over 50 people, the local satellite Press TV reported on Saturday.

The blast occurred in the Mazdavand region, 90 km from Mashhad, when an excavator mistakenly struck the pipeline transporting gas from the Khangiran refinery in Sarakhs to Mashhad, Iran Gas Engineering and Development Company Director, Alireza Gharibi, was quoted as saying.

"All the injured were transferred to a hospital in Mashhad and are receiving treatment," said Gharibi, adding "the incident caused no other damage."

According to Press TV, however, there are some contradictory reports about the casualties of the incident.

According to unconfirmed reports, six or seven people were also killed in the incident, said the report.