Rescue ends with 9 dead after illegal explosives blast in north China

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By CGTN's Hu Chao

Rescue operations after an explosion in a residential building in north China's Shanxi Province have been concluded, according to local officials.

As of 11:05 a.m. on Sunday, all 10 people that were trapped in the rubble were brought out. According to local officials, nine of those who were trapped have been confirmed dead. The people were buried in the rubble after an explosion at a residential building in Fushan County, northern China’s Shanxi Province.

The night blast killed nine people. /CGTN Photo

Six nearby residents were also slightly injured in the blast. They are now in hospital receiving treatment. The only survivor says the 10 people were members of three families staying in the same room when the explosion occurred.

Rescue operations were concluded on Sunday afternoon. /CGTN Photo

Local officials say the initial investigation shows the blast was caused by illegal explosives that were stored in one residential building. The explosion led to the collapse of nine residential buildings, which were two-storey apartments, and four makeshift houses in the nearby area. The blast wave also damaged five nearby houses, and left a big hole in the ground.

The blast resulted in a big hole in the nearby ground. /CGTN Photo

Experts from both China’s Ministry of Public Security and the provincial Public Security Bureau have arrived at the scene and an investigation has been launched.