ADEN, Yemen, July 3 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and 14 others injured when Houthi militants targeted a gas station with drones in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz early Thursday morning, a government official told Xinhua.

The attack occurred at dawn when Houthi militants bombed fuel tanks at the Qadasi gas station located northeast of Taiz city, the local official said on condition of anonymity.

He added that the powerful explosion killed one civilian and wounded more than 14 others, with some in critical condition. All injured persons were transported to a nearby public hospital for treatment.

Following the attack, the source noted that ferocious clashes erupted between Yemeni government forces and Houthi militias on the eastern front near the site of the explosion.

The Ministry of Defense of Yemen's government confirmed the incident on its official website, stating that the Houthis used drones to bomb the fuel tanks at the gas station. The explosion caused the complete destruction of the gas station and set fire to several nearby residential houses.

Civil defense teams have successfully extinguished the fire and provided assistance to the wounded, according to the ministry's statement.

The Houthi group has not issued any statement regarding the attack.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since late 2014, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

The Yemeni government has accused the Houthi group of repeatedly launching drone and missile attacks on several areas under its control. The attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and caused material damage. ■