Gas explosion in Harbin, China, emergency management bureau "caused by human factors" ... Police also intervene = Chinese coverage

Regarding the gas explosion accident that occurred in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, China, on March 25th, the local emergency management bureau said that the gas explosion occurred due to "artificial factors."

At around 5:10 pm (local time) on the 25th (local time), a gas explosion occurred in a seven-story house in Harbin, killing one person and injuring seven others.

When the local media "Kiwame Shimbun" interviewed nearby residents, it was confirmed that the explosion occurred in a room on the first floor of the building, and that flames were rising from that room after the explosion. A man believed to have been in the room was blown away by the blast, and he was lying outside the door, according to the report.

A gas company official said that the accident was not caused by a gas leak. An official from the emergency management bureau also announced on the afternoon of the 27th, "In the initial investigation, it seems that the gas explosion was caused by human factors."

Police authorities have also intervened to investigate the cause of the accident.