Emergency services attend the scene of an explosion site in Xi’an, capital city of China’s Northwest Shaanxi province, Nov 14, 2011. (Photo: cnwest.com)
Seven people have been confirmed dead and 31 others injured after an explosion occurred at a fast food restaurant in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Monday morning, the city government said.
The explosion, which was caused by a liquefied petroleum gas leak, happened around 7:30 am The explosion shattered windows in nearby buildings, blew away a bus stop sign and destroyed several cars parked in the neighborhood, according to a fireman at the scene.
The restaurant was located on the first floor of the Jiatian International Mansion, a commercial building in the Gaoxin district.
The fireman said most of the victims were pedestrians walking by the building, including children who were on their way to school.
Rescue work ended around 11 am and all of the injured have been sent to local hospitals for treatment, a spokesman with the municipal government of Xi'an said.
The injured are being treated at Gaoxin Hospital and the Provincial People's Hospital. A doctor at Gaoxin Hospital said many of the wounded received head injuries.
