BEIRUT (AP) — Syria's state-run news agency has raised the death toll from what it says was a twin bombing that struck a crowd in a predominantly Kurdish town in the country's north to 44 killed.

The report says a truck loaded with large quantities of explosives blew up on Wednesday on the western edge of the town of Qamishli, followed by an explosives-packed motorcycle a few minutes later in the same area.

It says the blasts caused massive damage in the area and that rescue teams are working to recover victims from under the rubble.

Qamishli, near the Turkish border, is mainly controlled by Kurds but Syrian government forces are present and control the town's airport.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack.