Blast Rips Through Chongqing Canteen, People Trapped

At least 20 people were trapped after an explosion on Friday caused a building housing a government canteen to collapse in Chongqing.

The blast at 12:10pm was caused by a "suspected gas leak" in a canteen and caused a neighbourhood committee building to collapse, trapping people inside, the People's Daily reported.

Authorities have sent around 260 rescue workers and 50 vehicles to the site, CCTV reported, adding that the cause of the blast was under investigation.

Nine people have been rescued from the site, officials said.

Xinhua News Agency said some injured people had been taken to hospital.

Footage posted on social media by CCTV showed smoke and dust billowing from the collapsed building in Wulong district on the outskirts of the southwestern megacity.

Local government officials have set up an "on-site emergency response headquarters" to direct the rescue work and provide medical treatment, People's Daily reported. (AFP)