Shop blast leaves 2 dead, 55 injured in east China city

Rescue vehicles are seen at the accident site in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2017. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Two people have been confirmed dead and 55 others were injured after a blast occurred in a shop near West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, on Friday morning, according to sources with local authorities.

Among the injured, 12 people sustained severe injuries.` The blast happened at around 8:40 a.m. Billowing flames and strong heat shattered the glass of passing vehicles, including a bus, causing most of the injuries.

The fire has been put out, and all the injured have been sent for treatment in hospitals, according to the city's fire department.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

The shop is located in the West Lake District, a well-known scenic area. The lake was used as the backdrop of a performance directed by Zhang Yimou as part of the G20 summit last year.