An explosion rocked a kindergarten in eastern China on Thursday, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, authorities said, as state media published images showing bloodied and unconscious victims. 


The blast occurred near the kindergarten and victims were taken to hospital, according to the Fengxian county government in Jiangsu province. 


Images circulating online showed that the force of the blast tore people's clothes off and one woman was seen clutching her child, who is in tears. 


Xinhua news agency, citing the emergency office of Xuzhou city, said the explosion happened at the gate just as children were leaving the school in the afternoon. 


An official at the police station in Fengxian county told AFP that the cause of the blast was under investigation. 


At least seven people were killed and 66 injured, including nine seriously, according to Xuzhou city government. Two died at the site of the explosion and five while being treated. 


Pictures of the scene showed more than a dozen people outside a building, many lying on the concrete and some appearing to be unconscious, including a small child. 


Another video posted by the People's Daily shows emergency workers arriving at the scene with gurneys. Another shows people lying in a hospital. 


Online media reports cite a business owner near the kindergarten as saying that around 5:00 pm (0900 GMT) he heard a "bang", and found that there had been an explosion at the kindergarten entrance only 100 metres away. 


It is the latest tragedy to strike a kindergarten in China in recent weeks

Source: NNA