3 dead, 149 injured in N China restaurant fire, blast

（Xinhua） 11:01, June 20, 2013

Onlookers are seen around the locale of a restaurant blast in Shuozhou City of north China's Shanxi Province, June 20, 2013. Blasts ripped through a restaurant in Shuozhou Wednesday night, killing three people and injuring 149 others. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

TAIYUAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A fire and a subsequent blast ripping through a restaurant in north China's Shanxi Province Wednesday night has 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 p.m., 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 a.m. Thursday, rescue work had concluded.

Further investigation is under way.

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