"Six people all onboard -- two elderly men, two women and two men -- were killed in a landmine explosion in Nad Ali district of Helmand province," Ahmad Zirak, the provincial governor's spokesman, told AFP.

The blast at around 7:00 pm on Friday took place as they were travelling from one village to another in the district, Zirak added.

Mohammad Ismail Hotak, deputy director of the coordination center for security forces in Helmand, confirmed the toll.