After blowing up the Baalshamin temple last week, Islamic State militants attempted to destroy the Temple of Bel at the world-famous Palmyra ruins.
Temple of Bel
Maamoun Abdulkarim, head of the Syrian Department of Antiquities and Museums, confirmed that an explosion had taken place, but said that the basic structure of the site appears to be intact.
Mr Abdulkarim told the BBC: "our information is provisional, but it indicates that any damage done was partial, and the basic structure is still standing."
The 2,000-year-old Greco-Roman ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracted more than 150 000 tourists annually before the Syrian conflict began. The ancient city is located in the desert north-east of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Fears about the safety of Syria's ancient ruins have been growing since Islamic State militants seized control of Palmyra in May. IS has targeted Iraqi and Syrian historical sites in the past, as they regard the ancient temples as heretical.
Welcome to the ruins of the Temple of Bel Sanctuary at Palmyra in Syria before the attack