At least seven people were killed, about 200 others injured and several buildings destroyed when two explosives-laden vehicles detonated in southwest China on Tuesday, local officials said.
“Seven people have been confirmed dead and about 200 others injured in an explosion that occurred near a gas station in Guizhou Province today,” they said.
About 200 people were rushed to a local hospital, 20 of whom are in critical condition, a spokesman with the local rescue headquarters said.
The accident happened at about 11:30 am (9 am IST), when two cargo trucks loaded with about 70 metric tonnes of explosives exploded in front of a motor vehicle testing station in the city of Fuquan, about 100 km from Guizhou’s capital of Guiyang, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Windows shattered in nearby houses, and cars parked near the site were severely damaged. A nearby grain warehouse was seriously damaged as well.
A witness said that the testing station was destroyed and a neighbouring five-story residential building was severely damaged. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene swiftly after the blast occurred.
An investigation into the cause of the explosion is under way, the report said.
