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Up to 100 dead, hundreds injured in China blast

BEIJING, China -- Nearly 100 people have been killed after explosives in a private residence went off early Monday in China's northwest Shaanxi Province, local hospital staff have told CNN.

Another 200-300 people were injured in the explosion, the hospital said.

Police are searching for a man who ran an explosives factory that was closed during a security check in April.

Police said the man had moved his unsold explosives to his brother's house in Hengshan County after his plant was closed.

Explosives are not uncommon in this area of China, often used in mining and for clearing farms.

China's Xinhua News Agency reported 41 people dead, but the local hospital said that number had gone up throughout the day as searchers have pulled bodies from rubble.

Fireworks

China has ordered strengthened measures to prevent explosions following several deadly blasts.

Homemade bombs exploded by a man bearing a grudge against family members and neighbours levelled several buildings in the northern city of Shijiazhuang in March, killing 108 people.

That same month, an explosion destroyed a schoolhouse in the southern province of Jiangxi, killing 42 teachers and students.

The government blamed the school explosion on a deranged bomber. Parents said the students had been forced to make fireworks by school administrators.

China imposed the crackdown on unlicensed explosives makers after the bombing in Shijiazhuang highlighted how easy it was to buy explosives.

China executed the man accused of setting off the blast, as well as three people from a nearby village who had sold the man explosives and fuses.

Reuters contributed to this report.






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