SANHE, China: A large gas explosion in a building in northern China has left at least seven dead and dozens injured, Chinese state media reported on Thursday.
The explosion occurred just before 8 a.m. (000 GMT) on Wednesday in a residential area in the city of Sanhe, Hebei province, less than 50 kilometers east of central Beijing, state television CCTV reported.
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, local authorities announced early Thursday that the death toll had risen from two to seven and 27 people were injured.
A video released online by state media shows a massive explosion that sent a plume of smoke and fire down a busy road.
CCTV reported Wednesday afternoon that the fire has been extinguished.
State media reported that the explosion appeared to be caused by a gas leak at a fried chicken shop.
A footage showed two large buildings completely destroyed by the blast and rescue teams removing a car that was hit by the blast.
Rescuers are also seen carrying a large gas cylinder.
The local authorities prevented the access of journalists to the place of the explosion and sometimes they physically dealt with the journalists who tried to approach the area.
Footage circulating on social media showed CCTV crews being prevented from filming live near the blast site, and authorities said the scene remained dangerous.
In response to the incident, the All-China Journalists Association issued a statement Wednesday night titled “Proper Interview Are a Journalists’ Right,” an unusual public statement in support of media rights in the country.
Residents told the media that they heard a loud explosion, rushed outside and saw smoke billowing into the morning air.
A local man said he did not see an explosion, but there was still heavy smoke when he arrived at the scene.
Footage posted on a video sharing site showed the facade of the store being blown away by the explosion. The uploader told the media that the explosion occurred 200 meters from his house.
Another social media video showed a completely destroyed building with several wrecked cars and debris scattered around.
