Local people gather in front of a hospital after a suicide attack in Lashkar Gah city, capital of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2018. (Photo: Xinhua)

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 10 others wounded after a suicide bomb blast struck an election campaign rally in Lashkar Gah city, capital of Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand on Tuesday, a local official said.

"A suicide bomb blast occurred roughly at 2:50 p.m. outside a parliamentary election candidate's office when an election-related gathering was underway," Omar Zwak, a provincial government spokesman, said in a statement.

Parliamentary hopeful Saleh Mohammad Achikzai received minor injuries after the explosion.

Spokesman Omar added that an investigation was ongoing into the incident and additional details will be released later on the day.

He said the number of casualties were likely to rise.

The casualties were shifted to hospitals by the security forces and rescue teams.

The violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by militants at the time when the country is preparing for parliamentary and district councils elections slated for later this month.

During the upcoming Oct. 20 elections, nearly 9 million registered voters, including 3 million women, out of some 12 million eligible Afghans, will cast their ballots to elect members of the 249-seat lower house of parliament for a five-year term while they will also vote to elect members of the district councils.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.