DAMASCUS - A suicide car bomber detonated his explosive-packed car in Syria's central province of Hama Monday evening, leaving an unknown number of casualties, the state media said.

The blast rocked al-Salamieh area in Hama, the report said, adding that many people were killed and injured. The process of searching for survivors is ongoing.

Elsewhere in the capital Damascus, an explosive device went off in the upscale district of Mushru Dummar, causing property loss only, local media said.

Syria has recently seen a surge in suicide bombings and blasts as well as incessant clashes nationwide.

No one has claimed responsibility for the latest blast yet, but previous ones have been claimed responsibility by radical groups fighting alongside the rebels.