1 killed, 7 injured in NW China natural gas blast

One person was killed and seven others injured after a gas blast on Monday morning in the suburbs of Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province.

The explosion happened at about 6 a.m. in a household on the 25th floor of a high-rise residential building in the northern suburbs of Xi'an, damaging windows and doors of nearby apartments, said rescuers.

One of the family members died at the site. Seven injured people are receiving medical treatment.

More than 170 households in the building have been evacuated.

The explosion is likely to have been caused by a natural gas leak, according to rescuers. A further investigation into the accident is under way.