Two people have died and dozens were injured when a blast caused by a gas leak tore down a four-storey building near Beijing early on Wednesday.
A government statement said the blast occurred at 7.54am in Sanhe county of Langfang in northern Hebei province, which neighbours the country’s capital.
It said the blast occurred at a fried chicken restaurant in Yanjiao, a town in Sanhe.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, two people died, 26 were reported injured and 28 people were rescued from the site by early afternoon.
The wounded, most suffering minor injuries, were sent to nearby hospitals.
CCTV said the fire at the explosion site was almost extinguished, and residents within 500 metres (1,640 feet) of the site had been transferred away from the disaster zone.
The broadcaster said authorities had not yet determined the specific cause of the explosion and the location where the explosion occurred, but that they confirmed the explosion was caused by a gas leak.
Sanhe emergency department said the municipal fire department sent 36 vehicles and 154 personnel to the scene.
Videos posted on Weibo social media showed huge clouds of grey smoke rising from the scene and engulfing the site, making it difficult to see surrounding buildings.
The explosion destroyed building facades and cars and left glass scattered across nearby streets. Some objects at the scene were on fire.
Residents told local media the gas service in the nearby area had been suspended and it was not clear when it would be restored.
Source: scmp.com
