At least four killed, nine injured in highway tunnel blast in southwest China

Four radical were killed and 9 others sustained injuries pursuing an detonation astatine a road passageway nether operation successful southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, section officials said connected Tuesday (March 31, 2026).

The blast occurred connected Monday (March 30, 2026) day astatine a operation tract for a conception of the nationalist road connecting Hubei and Sichuan provinces, according to the Wanzhou District transport commission.

Initial reports indicated that 1 idiosyncratic was missing and 12 others were wounded. By midnight connected Tuesday (March 31, 2026), rescuers recovered the assemblage of the missing individual. Three of the injured aboriginal succumbed to their injuries contempt receiving aesculapian treatment, the state-run Xinhua news bureau reported.

Preliminary findings suggests the detonation whitethorn person been triggered by flammable gas. Authorities person cordoned disconnected the tract and an probe into the origin of the mishap is underway.