North China restaurant explosion kills at least 14

TAIYUAN - The death toll from an explosion at a hotpot restaurant in North China's Shanxi province on Friday evening rose to 14 early Saturday with another 47 people being injured, local investigators said.

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A car is engulfed by a blaze after an explosion at a restaurant in Shouyang county in Jinzhong city of North China's Shanxi province on Nov 23, 2012. [Photo/163.com]

The explosion, which occurred at 7:52 pm, triggered a blaze at the Xiyangyang (Happy Sheep) Hotpot Restaurant in Shouyang county of Jinzhong city.

Initial investigations showed the explosion was caused by a gas leak. Investigators said the injured, including 17 severely, were sent to hospital after the incident.