3 dead, 149 injured in north China restaurant fire

A fire and a subsequent blast ripping through a restaurant in North China's Shanxi Province Wednesday night left at least three people dead and 149 others injured, including 19 who were critically injured, according to local authorities. A fire erupted in a new restaurant in the economic development zone of Shuozhou City around 9:30 pm on Wednesday, then a blast occurred while firefighters were working in the restaurant, an official with the rescue headquarters of Shuozhou said. Three trucks from the local fire-fighting brigade were damaged, according to a Xinhua reporter at the scene. The two-story building housing the restaurant showed signs of having caught fire, and glass from nearby buildings was scattered on the street. As of 4 am Thursday, rescue work had concluded. Further investigation is under way.