At least seven people were killed and 17 others injured in an explosion in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local authorities said.

According to police, the blast occurred in Xing'an County, which falls under the administration of Guilin City. The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.

Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene immediately after the incident, while rescue and recovery operations were launched in the affected area.

Authorities said preliminary investigations found no indication that the explosion was caused by a natural gas pipeline or a similar infrastructure failure.

The blast resulted in seven fatalities and left 17 people injured, according to initial official figures. The condition of the injured victims has not been disclosed.

Chinese authorities have opened an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and assess the extent of the damage.

Industrial accidents and unexplained explosions periodically occur in China despite ongoing efforts by authorities to strengthen workplace safety regulations and emergency response mechanisms.

Further details are expected as the investigation continues. (ILKHA)