14 killed, 147 injured in China blast

At least 14 people were killed and 147 were injured when a powerful explosion destroyed a prefabricated house and damaged nearby buildings and cars in northwest China’s Shaanxi province. The explosion hit five prefabricated houses around 2pm (local time) on Monday, damaging nearby buildings at Xinmin Township, Fugu County.

Among the injured, 106 have been hospitalised and 41 have returned home after treatment, authorities in-charge of rescue work said on Tuesday. Rescue efforts have mostly concluded, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Initial investigation indicated that the explosion could be caused by explosives. The makeshift houses had been built inside a residential compound. The explosion also damaged 58 nearby houses and 63 cars.  The prefab houses, owned by a local villager, were rented out in September. The owner of the houses is in police custody and an investigation is under way.