Blast caused by illegal explosives kills at least 9 in China: Xinhua
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A coal-fueled power station near Datong, in China's northern Shanxi province. Shanxi has large coal mining industries, where explosives are regularly used.
PHOTO: AFP
BEIJING (REUTERS) - An explosion in northern China's Shanxi province on Saturday (April 1) evening killed at least nine and injured six, 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 under way.
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.
A province-wide investigation into explosive production and storage was launched following the incident.
Both Shanxi and Shaanxi have large coal mining industries, where explosives are regularly used.
