Gas explosion in Xi’an

    Nine people have been confirmed dead and 37 others injured after an explosion at a fast food restaurant in Xi’an in Shaanxi Province on Monday, the city government said.

    The explosion, which was caused by a gas leak, happened at about 7:30 a.m. The explosion shattered windows in nearby buildings, blew away a bus-stop sign and destroyed several cars parked nearby. Most of the victims were pedestrians* passing the building, including children on their way to school.

    Death toll in Yunnan

    Authorities had confirmed the deaths of 34 miners after a gas leak in a coal mine in Yunnan Province on Thursday, rescue headquarters said on Sunday.

    The provincial authority said it was investigating a claim that a mine official who faked fleeing the mine shaft after the accident. According to witnesses and some miners on duty, Qi Guming did not go underground with other miners as required by safety laws.

    Environmental award

    A total of 19 citizens were on a shortlist for the annul government environmentally friendly award in Shenzhen. Among the candidates are students, entrepreneurs, government officials and engineers.

    Income survey

    The average monthly income of Shenzhen employees this year was 6,644 yuan (US$1,055), the highest in Guangdong Province, according to a survey released at the second South China Human Resources Forum on Sunday.

    Many Shenzhen residents doubted the survey results. In an online survey, nearly 45 percent said their monthly incomes were below 4,000 yuan.

(SD-Agencies)