Three explosions in the Egyptian resort of Dahab have killed 22 people and wounded up to 150, security sources say.

One witness of Monday's explosions, told Reuters he heard three blasts and saw smoke rising from the tourist bazaar area of Dahab.

The interior ministry put the toll at 10 killed - four foreigners and six Egyptians - and 70 wounded.

The blasts, which were 30-40 metres apart, hit in the Majra al Sail area at about 7.15pm (1715 GMT). One reportedly hit the Mashrabiya hotel.

All exits from the town were sealed off by police.

Egyptian authorities told Al Jazeera the explosions were set off by remote control.

An ambulance official told Reuters that many of the dead appeared to be foreigners.

A state of alert was declared at the main hospital in the Israeli border town of Eilat, both to handle any casualties sent for treatment there and to free doctors for dispatch to the scene.

Eilat's hospital is calling on people to donate blood.

Channel 10 TV reported the Israel Defence Forces had closed the Taba crossing, preventing vehicles from entering Sinai. It said a stream of Israeli vehicles were leaving Egypt.

Hotels in Dahab, on the Gulf of Aqaba on the eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula, were crowded on Monday with Egyptians celebrating the spring holiday Sham el-Nassim.

Last July, at least 60 people, including foreigners, were killed and more than 200 wounded when two car bombs and a suitcase filled with explosives ripped through hotels and shopping areas in Egypt's tourist area of Sharm al-Shaikh.

PHOTO CAPTION

Dahab is an Egyptian Sinai resort town. (REUTERS)