An explosion killed 12 villagers and injured 24 in the village
of Xima, Tongliang County in southwest China's Chongqing
Municipality on Thursday.
The blast occurred at 4 PM in a teahouse on the ground floor of
the building. Nine were killed instantly in the explosion and three
died on their way to the hospital.
Both the dead and injured were having tea when the blast
occurred.
Officials from Chongqing Municipality went to the village to
guide rescue work.
The origin of the explosion is now under investigation, but
authorities say they have excluded a gas leak as a possible
cause.
(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2004)
