SHENYANG, June 12-- One person died and two others are missing after an explosion ripped through a residential building on Friday morning in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Part of the building collapsed after the blast occurred at around 5 a.m. in the Lingdong community of Longgang District, Huludao City, according to a statement from the city's publicity office.

The explosion was suspected to be caused by liquified gas leak. Rescue work is underway, the statement said.

Nine residents have been rescued from the rubble and a dozen injured, including three pedestrians, have been hospitalized.

A similar residential building explosion in Huludao City on May 31 left two dead and another 11 injured.