At least 20 people were trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building after an explosion on Friday in the Chinese city of Chongqing, according to state media, IgbereTV reports.
The blast at 12:10 pm (0410 GMT) was caused by a “suspected gas leak” and led to the collapse of a neighbourhood committee building housing a canteen, the state-run People’s Daily reported.
People having lunch at the time were trapped, state news agency Xinhua said.
Nine people have been rescued from the rubble so far, according to the fire department.
It posted a video on its official Weibo page showing orange-clad workers in hard hats climbing through a tangle of cables, bricks, and concrete.
Some of the injured people have been taken to hospital for treatment, said Xinhua, without giving further details of their condition.
Footage posted on social media by state broadcaster CCTV showed smoke and dust billowing from the collapsed building in Wulong district on the outskirts of the southwestern megacity.
The scene of the blast appeared to be in the middle of other buildings and was surrounded by a crowd of bystanders.
Authorities have sent around 260 rescue workers and 50 vehicles to the site, CCTV said, adding that the cause of the blast was still under investigation.
Heavy lifting and excavation equipment have also been sent to the scene
