8 die, 35 injured in a natural gas pipeline explosion in southwest China's Guizhou Province

GUIZHOU - Locals were forced to flee a wall of flame near a Chinese village on Sunday after a natural gas pipeline exploded, killing 8 people and injuring 35 others.

The accident occurred at 10:44am local time near a stretch of the Shanghai-Kunming expressway in southwest China’s Qinglong County, according to Chinese officials.

At least 8 people were killed and 35 others injured when the pipeline erupted, report Xinhua News.

https://twitter.com/XHNews/status/881491722060124164

Some 53 firefighters had to be deployed to tackle the incident, report Sina. Meanwhile, traffic on the expressway was also brought to a standstill.

The blaze was brought under control before 1pm local time, according to a statement from Qianxinan traffic police.

Video obtained by New China TV, an affiliate of Xinhua News Agency, shows people running for safety in the immediate aftermath of the explosion.

https://youtu.be/O9c7vLV23xA