Photo: Xinhua

 

Photo: Xinhua

 

Fourteen students were among 17 people killed by an explosion at a restaurant in East China's Anhui Province on Saturday, according to the local government Sunday.

The killed students, aged 15 to 20, came from nearby schools in Wuhu's Jinghu district. Three other men aged between 33 and 59, including a father and son, were also killed. Many were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, officials said.

A gas cylinder at a restaurant on the first floor of a six-story building caught fire close to lunchtime Saturday, followed by a blast minutes later, according to initial investigations. The restaurant opened in August without a permit.

The fire was put out in about half an hour, fire officials said.

Firefighters said the blast occurred in the restaurant's  kitchen.

The restaurant's owner Zhang Baoping, is undergoing police investigation. Zhang said he and his wife rented the restaurant more than two months ago to sell snacks, including fried noodles. When the accident happened, he tried to put out the fire with water and a fire extinguisher, but the blast occurred shortly after. Both he and his wife were injured. A witness said that he heard at least two explosions.