Hydrogen blast kills 3 in Shanxi
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-02-13 15:45

A possible hydrogen blast in a government square in Yangquan, a town in North China's Shanxi Province, killed 3 and wounded 6 on February 12.

Two died instantly from the 9pm blast, while seven others suffered injuries and were immediately sent to a local hospital for further treatment, where one of them later died.

Among the three dead, one has been confirmed as a vendor who sold hydrogen balloons.

A witness, surnamed Li, said: "As my family and I were out walking, we heard a terrible bang!"

Blood and a large amount of shredded balloons were seen on the spot alongside a corpse with limbs missing. Also a gas tank used for inflating balloons was bent out of shape due to the terrible blast.

According to some residents on the square, the cause of the blast may have been from the misuse of the hydrogen tank.

The local government has issued an order to crack down on the business of inflating balloons with hydrogen.