31 killed in northwest China blast

WORLD, June 22 (YPA) – At least 31 people were killed in an explosion at a restaurant in the northwestern Chinese city of Yinchuan, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday, citing the Communist Party committee in the region.

According to the Xinhua, a leak of liquefied petroleum gas… caused an explosion during the operation of a barbecue restaurant.

The agency added that seven people are receiving treatment, one of them in “critical condition”, while the rest suffer from burns and scratches.

Footage broadcast by state broadcaster CCTV showed firefighters working to put out the blaze at the site of the explosion, as smoke billowed from a gap in the front of the restaurant.

CCTV said Chinese President Xi Jinping “demanded maximum efforts to treat the wounded and strengthen monitoring of safety and management measures in key sectors and areas to protect people’s lives and property.”

E.M