UPDATE - China: 14 dead, 147 injured in residential area blast

UPDATES THROUGHOUT

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING (AA) – An explosion that tore through a group of prefabricated houses in northwest China has left at least 14 people dead and 147 others injured.

State news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday that overnight rescue efforts were conducted at the site in Xinmin Township in Shaanxi province where dozens of nearby buildings -- including a local hospital -- were damaged.

According to an initial investigation, the prefabricated houses had been built within a residential compound, and the blast Monday afternoon could have been caused by explosives.

The owner of the houses, which were reportedly rented out last month, has been placed in custody amid an ongoing investigation.

Xinhua cited rescue authorities as saying that of those injured, 106 remain in hospital and 41 have returned home.

The affected area, where 58 houses and 63 vehicles were damaged, has been evacuated.

The Huashang newspaper had earlier cited local residents as saying that the incident "might be related to unlicensed storage of explosives".