(UPDATES AT BOTTOM OF POST)

Reports are racing in about a huge explosion that took place in Kabul, Afghanistan Wednesday morning (local time), near the green zone and just a few hundred meters from the U.S. embassy, as well as several other embassies.

Several reporters were on scene in their local bureaus when the explosion rocked the city.

#BREAKING latest update from #Kabul that the VBIED went off 400 meters from U.S. Embassy and (Spinney's) grocery store

— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) May 31, 2017

Massive explosion just shattered all the windows and glass in our bureau #Kabul

— jessdonati (@jessdonati) May 31, 2017

Reuters reports plumes of black smoke filled the air above the green zone and the Presidential Palace. As many as 60 people have already been reported injured in the blast, which took place about 45 minutes ago at the time of this writing.

Update: Afghan Health ministry says 60 wounded people so far taken to hospitals.#KabulBlast pic.twitter.com/KUDOQdq4mC

— Pajhwok Afghan News (@pajhwok) May 31, 2017

Here are some of the early photos from the area. (See updates for more)

Smoking is rises after huge bomb explosion in #Kabul city. pic.twitter.com/wg9MdQuJFK

— A&Z (@kunduz2017) May 31, 2017

Afghanistan: Huge explosion near German embassy in Kabul, several killed pic.twitter.com/LLSRanXwfa

— The Earth News (@TheEarthNews1) May 31, 2017

Several killed, dozens injured in #Kabul blast near German embassy – police https://t.co/xpOAhaZVVk pic.twitter.com/j61ylJRA5J

— RT (@RT_com) May 31, 2017

Earlier this month, a car bomb killed 8 people also near the U.S. Embassy. This story may be updated as information comes in.

UPDATE: Reports of fatalities are coming in, no estimate on the number.

UPDATE: Just wow, this update from journalist Sarah Carter. Just wow.

#Kabul blast photo. pic.twitter.com/Ej5WEo4gSL

— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) May 31, 2017

UPDATE 3: The blast was caused (again) by a suicide bomber.
From the AP:

Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said at least 50 people were killed or wounded in the suicide car bombing Wednesday.

UPDATE 4: The latest casualty report (2:11 a.m ET).

The Latest: Afghan health official says rush-hour explosion in Kabul killed 9 people and wounded as many as 90. https://t.co/ZP2rAW2F71

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 31, 2017

UPDATE 5: Wow the death toll is climbing. (2:45 a.m.) Just terrible.

AFP Graphic on Kabul blast in diplomatic quarter as death toll leaps to 49 dead, more than 300 wounded pic.twitter.com/uraVioAvfI

— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 31, 2017

UPDATE 6:

#UPDATE The BBC's Afghan driver was killed and four of its journalists were injured in a truck bomb blast in Kabul. https://t.co/JrSC2S6ble pic.twitter.com/s7PkXMx2MH

— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 31, 2017

UPDATE 7: The casualty toll has now risen to 80 dead, 350 injured in the devastating suicide car bomb attack. Also, more details via the New York Times.

• The attack was one of the deadliest in the Afghan war, and the toll was expected to rise.
• The explosion could be heard throughout the central city. Windows were shattered a mile away.
• The German Embassy was extensively damaged, and an Afghan security guard working there was killed.

IN the below tweet, the destroyed building to the left is the German embassy.

Overnight: 80 people died in Afghanistan after a suicide bomber attacked im downtown Kabul pic.twitter.com/zR9l01ArOM

— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) May 31, 2017