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A gas explosion in a produce market killed at least 12 people and injured 138 others, 37 of them seriously, in central China on Sunday, local authorities said.
The local government said the cause of the explosion, which occurred around 6:40 a.m. in Xi’an City, Hubei Province, is still under investigation.
Pictures published by state media showed stones and debris scattered in the street and showed extensive damage to nearby buildings. Rescue workers in orange helmets and suits worked to free people trapped under the rubble.
Local news reports said that when the explosion occurred, people were buying and selling produce and having breakfast in the market located in a residential area in Changwan District of the city. City officials said 913 families and merchants were evacuated from the scene.
Authorities said Wang Zhonglin, governor of Hubei, rushed to Xi’an to direct rescue efforts. The provincial Communist Party secretary, Ying Yong, has called for gas pipelines, chemical plants, power plants and old residential neighborhoods across Hubei to be checked for safety hazards.
Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, said there are “deep” lessons to be learned from the incident, according to a reading published by Xinhua on Sunday evening.
Before the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China on July 1, Mr. Xi said, assessing “hidden dangers” and looking for major emergencies would help create a “favorable atmosphere”. The government is using the anniversary to convey the message that only by following the party can China strengthen its standing in the world.
In recent years, deadly explosions in industrial areas have caused the Chinese authorities to become more strict in enforcing safety rules. In 2015, explosions at a chemical storage facility in Tianjin, the northern port city, killed more than 170 people.
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