A big blast caused by a possible gas leak damaged a building in northern China, Beijing on Wednesday. At least two people died, and 26 were hurt, said officials.
There was an explosion at a fried chicken store in Sanhe city early in the morning, the authorities said in a quick announcement. The city is about 63 kilometers (39 miles) to the east of Beijing.
The police closed off streets over half a mile around the explosion. They were telling people to stay away.
Fire trucks went to the place and a truck was taking away a burned car with no windows. The old building is mostly destroyed, only a small part of the structure is still standing on top of a pile of debris.
CCTV, the state’s TV station, said that 14 people were taken to the hospital. Two of them are very sick.
The family of someone who died said to a local news agency called Hongxing News that she owned a guesthouse in the building and that her husband hasn’t been found yet. The parents had just dropped off their 9-year-old at school when the explosion happened.
More than 150 firefighters tried to control the fire, as shown on CCTV. Videos on the internet showed smoke coming out of a medium-sized business building at a street corner.
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At least two dead and others injured in suspected gas explosion near Beijing
