Developing | 1 dead and more than 20 hurt in China after blast tears down four-storey building near Beijing
One person was killed and many more were injured when a blast near Beijing early on Wednesday tore down a four-storey building.
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 – suspected to have been caused by a gas leak – occurred at a fried chicken restaurant in Yanjiao, a town in Sanhe.
Sanhe emergency department said one person had died and 22 had been hurt from the blast by 10.43am, and the municipal fire department had sent 36 vehicles and 154 personnel to the scene.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that the fire at the explosion site was under control and that rescue work was still under way.
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.
More to follow …
