Local government officials in China's Sanhe county, near Beijing, said on Thursday they had started an investigation into the cause of a massive explosion at a shop selling fried chicken that left seven dead and 27 injured.
Officials said that 14 people had been discharged from the hospital, and that the initial indications were that a gas leak had caused the blast.
Last year, President Xi Jinping ordered a safety overhaul across China, calling on all regions to rectify safety risks and "hidden dangers" after 31 people died in a gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant.
The explosion on Wednesday at a fried chicken shop, in the town of Yanjiao in China's northern province of Hebei, caused a massive orange fireball. The force ripped off the fronts of several buildings, crumpled cars on surrounding streets and left large pieces of debris on fire.
On-site rescue work has ended, cleanup at the scene is still ongoing and an investigation has begun, officials said in a statement.
US, Iran no closer to ending war as Tehran's response awaited
Israeli strike kills seven in south Lebanon, health ministry says
Countries prepare to evacuate hantavirus ship passengers
Magyar sworn in as Hungary's prime minister on promises of change
Putin attends scaled-back WW2 victory parade
