A powerful explosion tore through a residential complex in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province, on April 30, killing one person and injuring 21 others, six of them seriously, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Two people are still missing, as emergency crews continue search and rescue operations.

The blast, which occurred about 500 kilometers southwest of Beijing, was reported to local authorities around 1 p.m., according to local sources.

A rescue command center has been established at the site, with ongoing efforts focused on treating the wounded, locating the missing, and resettling displaced residents.

This tragedy comes amid a string of deadly incidents across China in recent months. Just a day earlier, a restaurant fire in Liaoning province claimed 22 lives and injured three. Earlier this month, a blaze at a nursing home in Hebei province killed 20 people, while January saw a vegetable market fire in Zhangjiakou that left eight dead and 15 injured. In December, a construction site fire in Rongcheng city killed nine workers.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the Taiyuan explosion, as the country grapples with mounting concerns over public safety and building standards. (ILKHA)