Six people were killed and 20 others were injured on Wednesday after an explosion ripped at a lotto outlet in General Santos City, southern Philippines, local media reported.

The explosion took place at 6:10 p.m. at a lotto outlet in front of the Anchor Hotel along Santiago Boulevard, said a report by ABS-CBN news network.

The area was reportedly crowded when the blast occurred.

Bomb experts of the General Santos Police are now investigating the incident, said the report.

Chief Superintendent German Doria said police also were looking into the possibility that the blast stemmed from the failure of the lottery outlet operator to pay winners of a lottery draw.

"This Lotto outlet closed three days ago because many bettors won ... then all of a sudden an explosion occurred in front of the Lotto outlet," Doria said.

Source: Xinhua