June 15 (UPI) -- Chinese state media reported an explosion near a kindergarten in China's eastern Jiangsu Province killed at least seven people and injured 66 others Thursday.
The explosion at the Chuangxin Kindergarten in the Fengxian County of the prefecture-level city of Xuzhou occurred at the front gate at 4:50 p.m. as children were being picked up, Xuzhou police said in a statement.
"The police and related departments rushed to the scene as soon as it was reported and conducted rescue and investigation work on the site," Xuzhou police said.
Chinese Central Television reported two people died at the scene and five others died at a local hospital. Though children are reported injured, it is not yet clear if minors are among the dead. Nine of those injured are in a serious condition.
The Xiandaikuaibao outlet reported an unidentified witness said the blast seemed to have been caused by an exploding bottle of cooking gas.
The official People's Daily newspaper posted video showing more than a dozen people lying motionless in front of the kindergarten's steel sliding gate. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
