An explosion at a residential complex in the northwestern Chinese town of Xinmin killed at least 14 people and injured 147 on Monday, Reuters reported citing state-backed Xinhua News agency.

The powerful blast occurred early in the afternoon at about 2 p,m. in a prefabricated house that has been built inside a bigger residential compound, CNN reported. The accident caused damage to several buildings including its local hospital.

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Rescue personnel searched through the rubble overnight in the hope of finding more survivors and to determine the cause of the explosion.

An initial investigation said that the blast was caused by illegally stored explosives. Authorities have reportedly detained the building's owners and are searching for the tenants, Reuters reported.

Of the injured victims, 11 were allegedly sent to an intensive care unit.

According to local media, there are several mining companies in Fugu County, where Xinmin is located.

Earlier this month, at least two people were also killed and 15 others injured after an explosion occurred at a commercial district in Yunnan province.

China has a bad safety hazards record. A report by Greenpeace revealed that nearly 200 people were killed in China because of chemical-related accidents between January and August this year. Of the 232 accidents caused by chemical production, storage, and transportation, 199 deaths and 400 injuries were recorded.

The report further reveal that China's more than 33,500 registered chemical facilities are lie in densely populated areas and about a fifth near essential natural resources like rivers and lakes.

However, China's chemical industry remained lax even after the deadly explosion in Tianjin in 2015 that killed 165 people, injured at least 800, and caused an estimated $1.1 billion damage.  

Tagschina, chemical accidents, Explosion, explosions in China, Gas Leak, Explosives, coal mining