Gas blast in China’s Hubei province kills 12: Officials

At least 12 people were killed and more than 100 others injured when a gas line explosion ripped through a residential compound in central China’s Hubei province on Sunday, local officials said.

Also read: Amid probe calls, new batch of coronaviruses in bats found in China: Report

Rescue efforts were continuing, according to a statement from the disaster management bureau in the city of Shiyan.

Videos shot by witnesses and verified by Beijing News show several buildings reduced to rubble and rescue workers carrying shocked survivors on stretchers.

Also read: Rare earth metals at the heart of China’s rivalry with US, Europe

The explosion took place at about 6:30 AM local time (22:30 GMT) and an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blast, the statement said.

Industrial accidents are common in China due to weak safety standards and corruption among officials tasked with enforcing them.

Also read: G7 to agree on climate, conservation targets as summit ends

The blast comes a day after eight people were killed and three others injured when toxic methyl formate leaked from a chemical handling facility in the southwestern city of Guiyang.