Explosion in a canteen in China: at least 20 people trapped
Steph Deschamps / January 7, 2022
An explosion Friday in a local government canteen in southwest China's Chongqing municipality trapped at least 20 people, state media said.
The tragedy occurred shortly after noon probably due to a gas leak, said state television CCTV, according to which rescue workers have arrived at the scene.
The first photos released by Chinese media on social networks show firefighters dressed in orange outfits, standing on sections of collapsed walls and helped by a crane.
Other videos show a thick cloud of gray smoke over a pile of rubble and civilians evacuating people.
An unspecified number of injured people have been transported to hospitals, CCTV said, according to which some 260 people and 50 rescue vehicles are mobilized in the rescue operations.