HEFEI - A blast that ripped through a restaurant in eastern China's Anhui Province on Saturday (Oct 10) killed at least 17 people, the Xinhua news agency said, citing local authorities.

The blast occured around noon at a private restaurant in the Jinghu District of Wuhu City, Xinhua cited the city government as saying.

The report said initial findings indicated that the blast was caused by a gas cylinder and further investigations were ongoing.