Suspected gas leak

Violent explosion in China: At least one dead Copied

An explosion in a restaurant east of the Chinese capital Beijing claimed seven lives.(Bild: AP)

Following a serious explosion in a restaurant east of the Chinese capital Beijing, the death toll has risen from two to seven. According to the latest information, 27 people were also injured.

The accident occurred during the morning rush hour in a restaurant in the town of Yanjiao, which belongs to the city of Sanhe.

According to the fire department, they sent over 150 rescue workers to the scene of the accident, where several stores were located.

Flying parts and a thick column of smoke
Videos circulated on social media showing an explosion in a building. The force of the detonation and flying debris caused severe damage to surrounding buildings and cars.

A thick column of smoke rose above the city, which is around 30 kilometers from Beijing. Firefighters extinguished the flames in the building, as can be seen on other videos.

Seven people have died and numerous others have been injured.(Bild: AP)

According to the city government of Sanhe, a gas leak could have caused the explosion. In China, there are frequent - and sometimes fatal - explosions, which are often caused by breaches of safety regulations.