Restaurant blast in China: 7 dead, 31 hurt

At least seven people were killed and 31 others injured on Monday when an explosion ripped through a fast food restaurant in Xi'an, the capital of China's northwestern Shaanxi province.

The explosion, which was caused by a liquefied petroleum gas leak shattered windows in nearby buildings, blew away a bus stop sign and destroyed several cars parked in the neighbourhood, according to a fireman at the scene, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The restaurant was located on the first floor of the Jiatian International Mansion, a commercial building in the Gaoxin district.

The fireman said most of the victims were pedestrians walking by the building, including children who were on their way to school.

Rescue workers rushed the injured to local hospitals, a spokesman with the municipal government of Xi'an said.