At least 20 people were trapped after an explosion on Friday caused a building housing a government staff canteen to collapse in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing, according to state media.
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The blast occurred soon after midday and was caused by a “suspected gas leak” in a canteen at a neighbourhood committee building, the state-run People’s Daily reported.

The explosion caused the building to collapse and trapped people inside, according to Chinese state media.
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Authorities have sent around 260 emergency workers and 50 vehicles to the site, state broadcaster CCTV reported, adding that the cause of the blast was under investigation.

A video posted on the official Weibo page of China’s fire department showed orange-clad workers in hard hats climbing through rubble.

Official news agency Xinhua said some injured people had been taken to hospital.

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