A devastating fried chicken shop explosion in China has killed 7 people and injured 27 others, the authorities say

• A fireball explosion from a suspected gas leak in the town of Yanjiao has killed seven people.
• The intense blast seized national attention in China and drew controversy when frontline staff blocked local reporters.
• The explosion comes as China tries to revamp its gas safety following a series of fatal blasts in 2023.

A suspected gas leak explosion in a fried chicken store has killed seven people and injured 27 others in Yanjiao, a town just east of Beijing, state media and authorities said on Thursday morning local time.