Explosion in key China gas pipeline disrupts supply

By WAYNE MA

BEIJING -- An explosion at a major natural gas pipeline on Sunday in China's eastern Jiangxi province injured two people and disrupted the supply of gas, Xinhua news agency reported.

Gas supplies delivered through the damaged section of pipeline have been stopped and the government is investigating the cause of the explosion, Xinhua said, adding that the explosion knocked down people hundreds of meters away.

The section is part of the second phase of China's West to East pipeline, which stretches 8,704 km from the northwestern Xinjiang region to Hong Kong.

The pipeline has an annual capacity of 30 billion cubic meters, according to the website of its operator, China National Petroleum Corp.