RAMALLAH, May 30 (JMCC) - Six Palestinians were killed and 13 injured Saturday evening when a cooking gas canister exploded inside a smuggling tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

Three of the injured sustained first degree burns, said hospital official Muawiyah Hasanein.

Several of the young men were carrying goods through the tunnel between the Palestinian Rafah and Rafah on the Egyptian side, when a gas canister exploded, resulting in the large number of injured, said Hasanein.

Hundreds of smuggling tunnels have been dug between the Gaza Strip and Rafah, used to transport goods that are banned by Israel from entering the Gaza Strip.

More than 200 Palestinians have died in incidents involving the smuggling tunnels -- from accidents involving electricity to Israeli air shelling of the tunnels. Egypt has also destroyed numerous tunnels.