The death toll in a huge explosion that rocked Kabul’s diplomatic quarter has risen to 90 with another 400 people injured, Afghanistan’s Public Heath Ministry has said, in what is believed to be one of the worst terror incidents to ever hit the Afghan capital.

Police spokesperson Basir Mujahid confirmed the Wednesday morning attack was caused by a powerful suicide truck bomb deployed during rush hour.

The massive blast near the German embassy in Zanbaq Square sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky and managed to shatter windows and blow doors off their hinges one kilometre (half a mile) away. Makeshift ambulances struggled to deal with the number of casualties as the vast scale of the damage became clear.

Video from the scene showed a number of dazed, bloodsoaked people stumbling around and bodies still lying on the ground or in burning cars. The majority of the dead are thought to be civilians. Women and children were among those killed, Ismail Kawasi of the Public Health Ministry said.

A BBC team was caught up in the explosion, killing driver Mohammed Nazir and inflicting non-life-threatening injuries on four journalists, a statement from the corporation read.

At least one journalist working for local Tolo news agency was confirmed to have died. German security sources said that an Afghan security guard at the embassy had been killed and several German staff hurt.

“The attack took place very close to the German embassy. It hit civilians and those who are in Afghanistan to work for a better future for the country with the people there. It’s especially contemptible that these people were the target,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Twitter.

Germany’s Interior Ministry said deportations of Afghans whose asylum requests have been rejected have been temporarily suspended in the wake of the attack.

The Japanese embassy confirmed two nationals had been wounded, as was one Pakistani embassy employee, and heavy damage was sustained by the nearby British, Turkish and Chinese embassies as well as the AFP news agency’s offices.

It is understood that Turkey plans to evacuate some of its staff from the city following the incident.

The death toll is expected to rise, the Interior Ministry said, putting out an urgent appeal for blood donors.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack – although the Taliban has denied involvement, making it more likely Isis is to blame.

Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Show all 13 1 /13 Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people A man reacts in shock after a suicide car bombing in a diplomatic zone of Kabul, Afghanistan, left at least 80 people dead Reuters Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people The Taliban has denied responsibility for the deadly suicide car bombing that set more than 50 cars alight Reuters Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Two Afghan men carry one of the many injured in the attack REUTERS Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people A man tries to drive his vehicle heavily damaged in the blast AP Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Two men walk away from the scene, covered in blood REUTERS Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people The bomb was detonated near the German embassy in the city’s heavily guarded diplomatic district REUTERS Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people One of many cars destroyed in the attack burns Reuters Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people The attack sent plumes of smoke over Afghanistan’s capital AP Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Several buildings have been damaged in the blast AP Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people The car bombing is thought to be one of the most deadly attacks ever to hit the capital Alamy Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Wounded victims lie on their beds in Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul AP Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Relatives of Afghan victims mourn outside a hospital after the blast in Kabul Reuters Kabul bomb blast kills at least 90 people Crowds in Kabul survey the damage after the deadly attack EPA

Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Wednesday’s explosion had “nothing to do with the Mujahedeen of Islamic Emirate,” as the Taliban calls itself. While the militant group claims only to wage war on the US-backed government and occupying foreign forces, civilians usually bear the brunt of the carnage, and the attack bore resemblances to other recent Taliban violence.

It is not uncommon for Isis to wait a day or two before claiming responsibility for attacks.

The latest terror incident is thought to be one of the deadliest to ever hit Kabul. Prior to the attack, a total of 220 people had died in extremist violence in the capital since April 2015. Last July two Isis suicide bombers blew themselves up during a Shia protest march, killing 80 people and wounding a further 230.

Last month, a Taliban offensive on an army training compound near the northern city of Mazar-e-Sherif killed 135 soldiers.

It is not clear what the attacker’s intended target was. Recent incidents targeting foreigners inside the heavily fortified diplomatic district – supposedly the capital’s safest area – have been claimed by both groups.

The latest explosion is sure to raise questions about existing security procedures.

On Wednesday afternoon the interior ministry confirmed local media reports that a sewage tanker was packed with explosives then detonated at a busy intersection, leaving a crater five metres (16ft) deep.

In a statement the Afghan government condemned the attack, saying: “Today the enemies of Afghanistan once again showed their brutality by killing and wounding civilians. The enemy has no mercy on civilians.”

Afghanistan as a whole has seen of a wave increasing violence in the past 12 months as both Taliban and Isis militants struggle to overthrow the government and impose Islamic law.

Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Show all 16 1 /16 Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2001 Afghans at the Killi Faizo refugee camp desperately reach for bags of rice being handed out to the thousands who escaped the bombardment in southern Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. (Chaman, Pakistan, December 4, 2001) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2002 Mahbooba stands against a bullet-ridden wall, waiting to be seen at a medical clinic. The seven-year-old girl suffers from leishmaniasis, a parasitical infection. (Kabul, March 1, 2002) All photos Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2003 A mother and her two children look out from their cave dwelling. Many families who, fleeing the Taliban, took refuge inside caves adjacent to Bamiyan’s destroyed ancient Buddha statues now have nowhere else to live. (Bamiyan, November 19, 2003) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Students recite prayers in a makeshift outdoor classroom in the Wakhan Corridor, a mountainous region in northeastern Afghanistan that extends to China and separates Tajikistan from India and Pakistan. (Northeastern Afghanistan, September 2, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Bodybuilders in the 55-60 kg category square off during a regional bodybuilding competition. Many Afghan men, like others around the world, feel that a macho image of physical strength is important. (Kabul, August 6, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2008 A woman in a white burqa enjoys an afternoon with her family feeding the white pigeons at the Blue Mosque. (Mazar-e-Sharif, March 8, 2008) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Addicts inject heroin while trying to keep warm inside the abandoned Russian Cultural Center, which the capital city’s addicts use as a common gathering point. Heroin is readily available, costing about one dollar a hit. (Kabul, February 9, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 An elderly man holds his granddaughter in their tent at a refugee camp after they were forced to flee their village, which US and NATO forces had bombed because, they claimed, it was a Taliban hideout. (Surobi, Nangarhar Province, February 7, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Seven-year-old Attiullah, a patient at Mirwais Hospital, stands alongside an X ray showing the bullet that entered his back, nearly killing him. Attiullah was shot by US forces when he was caught in a crossfire as he was herding sheep. (Kandahar, October 13, 2009). Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 US Army Sargeant Jay Kenney (right), with Task Force Destiny, helps wounded Afghan National Army soldiers exit a Blackhawk helicopter after they have been rescued in an air mission. (Kandahar, December 12, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 An Afghan National Army battalion marches back to barracks at the Kabul Military Training Center. (Kabul, October 4, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Eid Muhammad, seventy, lives in a house with a view overlooking the hills of Kabul. He and millions of other Afghans occupy land and housing without possessing formal deeds to them. (Kabul, November 21, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Razima holds her two-year-old son, Malik, while waiting for medical attention at the Boost Hospital emergency room. (Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, June 23, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Young women cheer as they attend a rally for the Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani. (Kabul, April 1, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Burqa-clad women wait to vote after a polling station runs out of ballots. (Kabul, April 5, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2015 Relatives, friends, and women’s rights activists grieve at the home of Farkhunda Malikzada, who was killed by a mob in the center of Kabul. Farkhunda was violently beaten and set on fire after a local cleric accused her of burning a Qur’an. (Kabul, March 22, 2015) Paula Bronstein

In recent years jihadi groups have increasingly called for attacks on civilians during the holy month of Ramadan, which began on Saturday. A suicide bomber killed 26 people breaking their fast and enjoying ice cream at a shop in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Tuesday.

“The terrorists, even in the holy month of Ramadan, the month of goodness, blessing and prayer, are not stopping the killing of our innocent people,” President Ashraf Ghani said.

Although the Taliban lost control of Afghanistan following the US invasion of 2001, it has steadily regained ground since most international troops withdrew in 2014 and other extremists such as Isis have also flourished. Islamists are currently in control of around 40 per cent of Afghanistan, although they hold no major cities.

Last month the group announced a spring offensive which would target foreign forces in the country.