House blast kills 8, injures 4 in N China

Eight people were confirmed dead and four others injured in explosion in a residential building in north China's Shanxi province that happened on Sunday, local authorities said late Monday night.

The explosion happened at Room 202 of Building No.4 in the Jingshan Garden Residential Compound of Changzhi City around 1:30 a.m., according to the municipal government's information office.

The blast was caused by natural gas leak and reason of the gas leak is still under investigation.

The injured are receiving treatment at local hospitals.

The emergency rescue team had finished the onsite search by 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

Shanxi Academy of Building Research will make a reinforce plan for the blast-hit buildings; Local government will disinfect the blast-hit area to prevent epidemic and provide psychological aid to families who lost their members.

A safety check on gas pipes has been launched across the city to prevent further accident.