Seventeen people sustained varying degrees of injury after an explosion rocked a residential complex in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, on Wednesday April 30, 2025.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. in Xiaodian District, a densely populated area of the Beijing neighbourhood.
Local officials said rescue operations began immediately after the blast, with fire services responding swiftly to the emergency.
By 3:00 p.m., firefighters had successfully extinguished the blaze triggered by the powerful explosion.
Authorities confirmed that four of the injured were in critical condition, receiving intensive care at designated hospitals.
Three victims were treated and discharged as reported by NAN.
The remaining victims are still being monitored by medical personnel for further complications.
Residents described the explosion as deafening, with glass windows shattering and thick smoke billowing into the afternoon sky.
Emergency teams cordoned off the area and began door-to-door checks for additional victims and structural damage.
Safety inspections are ongoing in the affected apartment complex to prevent further hazards or secondary incidents.
According to safety officials, a detailed investigation into the cause of the explosion is now underway.
They have not ruled out a gas leak, though no official confirmation has been issued.
Preliminary findings are expected within the next few days, pending forensic and structural assessments.
Residents displaced by the explosion are being temporarily relocated to nearby shelters by local emergency agencies.
Taiyuan authorities assured the public that all necessary support and medical services are being provided to the victims.
This tragic incident comes less than 24 hours after another deadly disaster in northeastern China.
Recall that Diaspora Digital Media, DDM, reported that on Tuesday April 29, a restaurant fire in the region killed at least 22 people and injured several others.
The fire was reportedly caused by a gas leak, highlighting ongoing concerns over safety regulations in public and residential buildings.
Chinese social media platforms have been flooded with messages of sympathy and calls for stricter safety enforcement.
Public outrage continues to grow over recurring industrial and residential disasters across several provinces.
Netizens are urging authorities to increase surveillance on gas systems and building standards.
Officials in Taiyuan pledged to learn lessons from the tragedy and ensure tighter safety protocols moving forward.
Further updates are expected from Shanxi provincial authorities as investigations into both incidents continue.
