Turkish media say the explosion of a car near the border between Turkey and Syria has killed at least 12 people and wounded nearly 30 others.

Officials say three of those killed were Turkish and the rest were Syrians.

Turkey's NTV news channel says the blast occurred Monday on Turkish soil, about 40 meters from the Cilvegozu border crossing in the southern province of Hatay.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said authorities are investigating all possible causes for the blast.

Several reports are quoting local mayor Huseyin Sanverdi as saying a Syrian-registered car is believed to have been at the center of the blast.

The border area between the two countries has been the scene of fighting between rebels and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military forces.