Senior Official Condoles With Explosion Victims

Senior Official Condoles With Explosion Victims

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A senior official Friday afternoon arrived in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province,expressing sympathy to those injured in the explosions that reportedly killed 18 lives, and condoling with families of the dead.

Wang Zhongyu, a State Councilor and secretary general of the State Council, toured the four sites where explosions took place with provincial officials.

"President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji are very concerned with the tragic explosions. I came here on behalf of the Central Committee of the Party and the State Council to reassure

you that the aftermath will be properly handled," said Wang to Zhu Qiuxia, who was injured during the explosions.

Wang urged local rescue teams and hospitals to try every resort to save people buried or injured in the detonation.

Local police is investigating into the cause of the explosions.