Ruptured gas pipe repaired in N China city

SHIJIAZHUANG - A ruptured natural gas pipeline in Xingtai city of North China's Hebei province has been repaired as of Sunday afternoon with no casualties reported, according to local authorities.

Natural gas supply was cut after the major pipeline, about one meter in diameter, was damaged in the early hours of Sunday, seriously affecting household heating and cooking downstream in the city.

Gas supply will be gradually restored in the evening to ensure cooking and heating for local residents, rescuers at the site said.

The natural gas transmission trunk was damaged at the border of Neiqiu county and Longyao county in Hebei province, where construction workers were carrying out a digging operation, firefighters with Xingtai city told Xinhua.

Neiqiu is under the jurisdiction of Xingtai, which has a population of around seven million.

No blasts or casualties were reported following the accident.