Suspected gas leak causes deadly blast in China
STORY: This is the moment a restaurant in northern China exploded, caught on dashcam video by a car driving nearby.
Footage posted on social media showed a large fireball over the site, and debris blowing out onto the street - seen hitting this woman and knocking her over.
It was not immediately clear if she was injured from the impact.
Thick plumes of smoke followed the deadly blast, which ripped facades off buildings and damaged cars nearby.
Early reports said at least two people were killed and more than two dozen injured.
The explosion took place at about 8 a.m. local time in Sanhe county, Hebei province, according to state broadcaster CCTV News, roughly 50 miles from the country's capital, Beijing.
A suspected gas leak triggered the accident in a shop selling fried chicken, city emergency officials said in a statement, drawing rescuers, firefighters, health and other officials to the scene.
City authorities also sent an investigation team, according to social media posts.
The blast comes after the government issued detailed safety guidelines last year on the use of gas appliances and cookers.
Regional supplier Taida Gas said in a statement it was suspending service in several surrounding areas, as a precaution.
"Our company ... will resume supply after ensuring safety," it added in the statement, although it said it did not serve the area where the shop is located.
