Beijing: An explosion at a restaurant in northern China has killed 14 people and injured 47.
The government of Shouyang county in Shanxi province says on its official website that a gas leak caused the blast and triggered a fire Friday evening at the Xinyangyang hotpot restaurant.
Representative image. Reuters
The official Xinhua News Agency says six people were killed at the scene and eight others died at a hospital. Seventeen people were severely injured.
Xinhua says the explosion was so powerful that it shattered the windows of the two-story building that houses the restaurant and shops.
Hotpot dining is popular among Chinese, with diners gathering around a steaming pot in which they cook meats and vegetables.
Restaurant explosions are common in China, though a death toll this high is rare.
AP
