The Hurriyet newspaper said staff at the embassy took shelter in a "safe room" inside the compound soon after the explosion.

NPR: Suicide Bomber Kills Guard At US Embassy In Turkey

Most of the casualties were from a fire that started when motorcycles parked in the same compound were set ablaze by the explosion at 2:30 p.m. local time, he said.

CNN: Eight dead, 80 hurt in India blasts

There were no reports of injuries following the midnight explosion in the Russian Compound nightclub district, but police said at least three people were taken to hospital to be treated for shock.

CNN: injured