Two killed, 26 injured in northern China building explosion

Rescuers were responding to a suspected gas leak explosion Wednesday in a building in northern China that killed two people and injured 26, authorities said.

The explosion came early in the morning from a fried chicken shop in the city of Sanhe, authorities said in a short statement. The city is just an hour drive west of Beijing.

Police cordoned off streets 1 kilometre (over half a mile) out from the explosion, and were directing people away, according to an AP report.

Fire engines were still arriving at the scene as of 11 am, and a truck could be seen hauling away a burnt-out car with its windows gone. Pieces of the building’s frame stood at a tilt above piles of rubble.

Over 150 firefighters were sent to bring the flames under control, according to national broadcaster CCTV. Videos online showed smoke billowing out of a mid-level commercial building at an intersection.