9 killed in China house explosion

International Desk: At least nine people were killed and six others were injured in an explosion in northern China's Shanxi province on Saturday evening, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The blast occurred in a residential building and was believed to have been caused by illegally stored explosives, Xinhua said. An investigation was underway.

A number of buildings collapsed and search and rescue work continued on Sunday afternoon, said state broadcaster CCTV.

China has a poor record of industrial explosive accidents in residential areas.

In October, 14 people were killed in neighbouring Shaanxi province when a blast caused by illegally stored explosives destroyed a block of prefabricated houses.


risingbd/Dhaka/April 02, 2017/A K Azad