Massive explosion kills two in Hebei

A huge suspected gas explosion at a restaurant in northern China killed two people and injured 26 more yesterday, causing severe damage to buildings.

The blast occurred just before 8am, state broadcaster CCTV said, in a residential area in the city of Sanhe, Hebei province.

Footage online circulated by state media showed a huge explosion that sent plumes of smoke and fire across a busy road. CCTV reported at 1.30pm that two people had since died and that 26 were injured.

The explosion was suspected to have been caused by a gas leak at a fried chicken shop.

Two large buildings were destroyed in the blast, footage shared by the broadcaster showed, with rescue teams seen hauling away a car that was hit.

Residents said they had heard a loud explosion before rushing outside to see a plume of smoke rising into the air.

"The noise was too loud," a vendor surnamed Wang said, adding she had heard a "second explosion."

The blast blew out shop facades opposite, footage shared on the video-sharing site Douyin showed. Another video showed what appeared to be a building that had completely collapsed as well as several destroyed cars and debris strewn across the street.

Explosions and other deadly accidents are common in China due to lax safety standards and poor enforcement.