SHANGHAI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Five people were injured in an explosion and a subsequent fire caused by a gas leak near Shanghai's iconic Jinmao Tower in the city's Pudong New Area on Thursday.

    The blast occurred at about 10 a.m. inside a vacant two-storey building slated for demolition about 30 meters from the tower, causing an open fire, the local public security bureau said.

Cleaners clear the accident spot in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 17, 2008. A building waiting for dismantling at Lujiazhui in Shanghai exploded accidentally on Thursday, causing 5 injured. Leaked natural gas met spark was confirmed as the cause of the explosion.(Xinhua Photo/Zhao Yun) Photo Gallery>>>

    The five injured, who are all recovering in hospital, included a shop owner and four passersby. A glass door of the 88-storey Jinmao Tower, currently the second tallest on the Chinese mainland, shattered.

    The fire was put out in half an hour.

    Preliminary investigations show the accident was caused by a gas leak from a pipeline passing through the two-storey building.

Policemen enter into explosion spot in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 17, 2008. A building waiting for dismantling at Lujiazhui in Shanghai exploded accidentally on Thursday, causing 5 injured. Leaked natural gas met spark was confirmed as the cause of the explosion.(Xinhua Photo/Zhao Yun) Photo Gallery>>>