Society

1 killed in apartment building blast in Urumqi

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-11 17:09

URUMQI - At least one person was killed and another nine injured Monday afternoon after a gas blast damaged an apartment building in suburban Urumqi, capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, fire fighters said.

It was the second residential building blast in one day, after fuel gas exploded in a three-floor building in downtown Beijing Monday morning, leaving at least one dead and another one injured.

The Urumqi explosion occurred at around 2:20 pm in an apartment on the third floor of a six-floor building, collapsing its ceiling and floor, leaving holes in the brick walls and shattering windows.

Rescue work continues as fire fighters use life detection devices to search for survivors.

At least one person is still buried under the debris, rescuers said.

The residential building in Toutunhe District of Urumqi belongs to Baosteel Group Xinjiang Bayi Iron and Steel, the largest steel company in the region.