The blast took place at about 6:30 a.m. local time in the Zhangwan district of Shiyan city, in Hubei province, according to local authorities.
Authorities have rescued nearly 140 people from the area, including 37 with serious injuries, according to state-run news outlet CCTV, quoting local officials.
The city’s municipal office initially said “many” people were trapped after the incident.
Images circulating on social media, which appeared to be from the scene, showed rescue workers in orange jumpsuits working through the wreckage of flattened houses.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, according to the city government, which said on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo that it is organizing rescue efforts.
