One blast took place near a building held by the Shiite Houthi group and the other one hit the Education Faculty in Radda town of al-Bayda province, a local government official said on condition of anonymity.
"The initial reports indicate that the bombings claimed the lives of 40 people including more than 20 children," the source added.
A tribal source told Xinhua by phone that "two laden-explosives cars targeted an office of the Shiite Houthi gunmen and destroyed a nearby college, causing deaths and injuries."
Local medics confirmed the death toll, adding that the number was likely to rise as they were still searching for victims at the bombing site and several of the wounded are in serious condition.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts, the deadliest attack in recent months in Radda town which is controlled by Shiite Houthi gunmen.
Radda was a bastion of the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and fell into control of the Shiite Houthi group in late October after deadly clashes between the two sides.
The Houthis clashed with Sunni tribes and the AQAP in the past two months in the countrys southern regions where the group was trying to expand its influence. More than 100 people were killed in the clashes and thousands were forced to flee their homes.
The Shiite Houthi group took over the capital in September following days of clashes with government troops that left more than 400 people dead. Security has then deteriorated in Sanaa.
On Oct. 9, an al-Qaida suicide bombing attack targeting a Shiite Houthi rally in downtown Sanaa killed at least 47 people.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
