The blast occurred near the village of Gecitli in Hakkari province, near the borders with Iraq and Iran. The security officials said the explosion was caused by a remote-controlled explosive device, though a mayor said it was a land mine.

A 15-month-old baby was among the injured, Turkish media said.

Roadside bombs have become a favored mode of attack for separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants.

They usually target security forces, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack.

The PKK declared a cease-fire last month, which is not due to expire until Sept. 20.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would be unswerving in its fight against terrorism.

"Terrorism exacts a certain price but this will not go unanswered," the prime minister said in the wake of the attack.

Before the cease-fire there had been a surge in violence between the military and the rebels since June when the PKK ended a previous 14-month unilateral cease-fire.

Several thousand PKK guerrillas are based in the mountains of northern Iraq, from where they regularly launch cross-border raids.

The group took up arms against Turkey in 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly Kurds, have died in the fighting.