Seven people were killed and 40 others injured after a commuter-van exploded in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Friday, local authorities said.
The commuter-van from a mine company in Shuangyashan City exploded around 6:30 a.m. Friday in the district of Lingdong, a city government spokesman said at a press conference.
The explosion affected a coach on the opposite lane. An earlier report said a collision between the commuter-van and the coach led to the explosion, which proved to be inaccurate.
There were 52 passengers aboard the two vehicles, said the spokesman.
The injured have been sent to two hospitals. The number of the injured was previously put at 39.
"I had thought the van hit an electrical wire pole and then lost my consciousness due to the explosion," said Sun Xihua, one of the injured workers in the commuter bus.
Sun suffered injuries in the chest and ears.
Zhou Xueli, the driver of the commuter bus, was also injured in the head. He has not fully restored his consciousness in hospital. His wife was also seriously injured.
The Zhongxing Mineral Industry Company, which owns the commuter-van, is a private enterprise.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is under way. China Central Television quoted witnesses as saying there was detonator on the commuter-van when the accident happened. However, this has not been confirmed by authorities.
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