JAKARTA – Nine people have been confirmed dead and more than 40 others injured in bomb blasts that rocked two luxury hotels in central Jakarta on Friday morning.

National police spokesman Nanan Soekarna said 14 foreigners were injured but a list of the wounded at a nearby hospital included the names of 18 foreigners.

Widodo Adi Sucipto, coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, told reporters that the blasts were caused by "high explosive bombs."

Earlier reports said the blasts hit Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in the upscale Mega Kuningan business district in the center of the city.

Jordan Firman, a local resident, said the first explosion took place around 8 a.m.

Firman said there were reports that the blast came from the Ritz Carlton hotel’s second floor.

A separate report by Reuters, quoting another local resident, said the first explosion was heard from the JW Marriott hotel.

Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Vidal Querol told ANC in an interview that there were no Filipinos affected in the blast.

Police have sealed off the area near the two hotels.

Meanwhile, a third explosion was heard in the Muara Angke area of northern Jakarta, more than two hours after the hotel blasts.

Local media reports said the blast came from a car at the toll road gate and killed two persons.

Soekarna denied earlier reports that the car blast was caused by a bomb.

"The explosion at Muara Angke was not a bomb. The explosion came from a pickup truck which had a faulty battery," he said. With a report from Reuters