Gas pipeline blast kills 3 in Xinjiang

URUMQI - Three people died and four others were injured after a natural gas pipeline under construction exploded Friday in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, local authorities said.

The explosion occurred at about 11:30 am in suburban Urumqi, the regional capital, a city government spokesman said.

The injured have been rushed to hospital and are described in stable condition, the spokesman said.

An investigation into the cause of the accident has been underway, he said.