BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- A massive explosion and fire at a shopping mall has killed four people and injured 40 in the city of Luzhou in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The fire has been brought under control and local authorities say it was caused by a gas leak. The injured, include five who were seriously hurt, are being treated at a local hospital.
The Thursday evening explosion shattered windows throughout the mall, littering the street with broken glass and debris. Many of the injured were hit by flying glass.
"We have received about 20 to 30 injured patients. They are being treated for different injuries including broken bones and lacerations," said Liu Peng, doctor at Luzhou Chinese Medicine Hospital.
More than 200 firefighters and 20 fire trucks responded to the blaze that engulfed a neighboring building. The fire was brought under control early Friday morning, but many who witnessed the explosion remain shaken. Ren Chuanjiang an electricrian at the mall was injured by the blast.
Some of the injured were pedestrians outside the mall and casualties would have likely been much higher if it had occurred during the day.
"As I drove by I heard a loud explosion from inside the mall and my car was hit by the flying glasses," said Shi Jiangao, taxi driver.
While the hospital says it has set up a special team to treat the seriously injured, few details are yet available on how those who died were killed.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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