The second blast occurred near the foreign ministry, just two minutes after the first explosion. An explosives-filled truck was detonated near a parking stand close to the ministry.

The powerful explosion damaged the foreign ministry building as well as the adjacent parliament building. The blast left a three-meter deep carter, the official said.

The Iraqi security forces and the rescue teams at the site were trying to retrieve the bodies scattered across the blast site.

The roof of the Rasheed Theater building, some 500 metres from the foreign ministry, collapsed in the impact of the explosion, the official added.