The vehicle was travelling through Cukurca, in the Hakkari province on the border with Iran and Iraq, when the explosion happened.

One police officer initially thought dead was resuscitated, said Hakkari local governor Muammer Tuerker.

The attack is blamed on rebels from the Kurdish separatist PKK group, who often lay explosives targeting security forces.

Clashes between the PKK and security forces have increased since legislative elections on June 12.

On June 16, 13 soldiers were killed in Diyarbakir province, the worst loss of life for the army since October 2008. Seven PKK rebels were also killed in the assault.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, took up arms in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives.