SHENYANG - An explosion has ripped through a restaurant in the northeastern Chinese city of Panjin, killing four people and injuring 22 others, local authorities said Wednesday.

The accident took place at about 6 pm on Tuesday in a barbecue eatery in downtown Panjin, a government spokesman said.

Initial investigation shows the blast was triggered by a gas leak, according to the spokesman.

The 22 injured have been hospitalized, and nine of them are still in serious conditions, he said.

Local authorities are further investigating the incident.