Beijing, June 12 (IANS): Three people were killed and one was trapped in the debris after an explosion at a residential building on Friday morning in northeast China's Liaoning province, Xinhua news agency reported.
Part of the building collapsed after the blast at around 5 a.m. in Huludao city, according to a statement from the city publicity office.
One person died at the scene, and two died in hospital. Eight residents were rescued and three passers-by remain in hospital.
"I thought it was an earthquake," said a resident who was caught in the blast. "I rushed out of the building immediately, and found smoke blowing out from the building."
The explosion was thought to have been caused by a gas leak.
A similar explosion in Huludao city on May 31 left two people dead and 11 injured.