Seven killed in blast at Chinese nursery

AT LEAST seven people were killed and dozens injured in an explosion at a nursery in eastern China, with official media saying it was caused by “gas cylinders”.

The blast happened near the entrance to the building in Fengxian, in Jiangsu province, as parents were meeting their children yesterday.

Two people died at the nursery and another five in hospital, according to an internet post from officials. Another 59 were hurt, including nine who were in a critical condition, said the post on Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter. It did not say how many children were among the casualties.

Unverified photographs purportedly from the scene and posted on social media showed children and adults lying on the ground, some bleeding.

One of the victims appeared to have all his clothes burned off, while others sat in shock. Some lay on the floor appearing dazed, and one woman was cradling a crying child.

Police said the blast struck at the Chuangxin nursery at about 4.50pm, the usual time that Chinese nurseries finish for the day.

A Weibo post from the People’s Daily newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party, said it was “suspected” by local officials that “gas cylinders exploded” at the front of the building.

A local newspaper, Xiandaikuaibao, had earlier said on its website that the explosion was caused by a bottle of cooking gas.

It is the latest tragedy to strike a kindergarten in China, after a school bus was engulfed in flames last month in the eastern Shandong province.

The fire killed 11 children and the driver, who was believed to have started the blaze in a grievance over lost overtime wages.

Additional reporting by Christine Wei