China kindergarten explosion kills at least eight; dozens injured

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

At least eight people died and a further 65 were injured in an explosion at a kindergarten in eastern China on Thursday.

The blast occurred in Xuzhou, in the coastal province of Jiangsu at around 5 p.m. when parents and other relatives were gathered outside the gates waiting for class to finish, the New York Times reported.

Witnesses told local media that a gas cylinder at one of the food stalls outside the kindergarten may have caused the explosion, according to the South China Morning Post.

It is unclear whether any children from the kindergarten were injured but reports suggest they were inside the building, so were shielded from the blast.

However, citing state-run Xinhua news agency, Reuters reports investigators have said that the explosion was a “criminal act” and that they have identified a suspect.

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Map location of kindergarten
2. Explosion
3. Death toll
4. Gas cylinder possible cause of explosion

VOICEOVER (in English):

“The blast occurred on Thursday at a kindergarten in Xuzhou, in the coastal province of Jiangsu.”

“The explosion happened at around 5 p.m. when parents and other relatives were gathered outside the gates waiting for class to finish.”

“At least eight people died and a further 65 were injured.”

“Witnesses told reporters that a gas cylinder at one of the food stalls outside the kindergarten may have caused the explosion.”

SOURCES: New York Times, South China Morning Post, Reuters

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