Restaurant explosion kills 31 in northwest China

At least 31 people were killed when an explosion ripped through a restaurant in the northwestern Chinese city of Yinchuan, state media said Thursday.

"A leak of liquefied petroleum gas... caused an explosion during the operation of a barbecue restaurant," state news agency Xinhua said .Seven more people were receiving medical treatment, the agency said, with one of them in a "critical condition".Two others had suffered severe burns, two had minor injuries and two had scratches caused by flying glass, Xinhua said.

The explosion at about 8:40 pm on Wednesday took place at the Fuyang Barbecue Restaurant in a residential area of downtown Yinchuan.Chinese President Xi Jinping "demanded all-out efforts in treating the wounded and the strengthening of safety supervision and management in key industries and fields to effectively protect people's lives and property", CCTV reported Thursday.

The Ministry of Emergency Management said local fire and rescue services dispatched more than 100 people and 20 vehicles to the scene in the wake of the blast.