IN BRIEF

Jilin

Gas blast kills 5, leaves 89 injured

A gas pipeline explosion in Songyuan city on Tuesday left at least five people dead and 89 others injured - 14 of whom are in critical condition - the local government said on Wednesday. The incident occurred at about 2:45 pm when workers were repairing a section of pipeline that had a gas leak. The explosion affected patients and staff in a nearby hospital. Most of the injured suffered burns, bone fractures or bruises.

Hubei

Military World Games commission set up

The Executive Commission for the Seventh Military World Games was set up on Wednesday in the provincial capital of Wuhan, where the Games will take place in October 2019. The commission held its first meeting on the same day to discuss the timetable for the Games' preparation work, according to a news release from the Central Military Commission's Training Management Department. It will be the first time for China to hold a Military World Games, which is a multisport event for military athletes organized by the International Military Sports Council.

Inner Mongolia

North China border fire extinguished

A large grassland fire that had been raging across the China-Mongolia border has been extinguished, authorities in China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region said on Wednesday. The fire crossed the border on June 29 and had raged in New Barag Left Banner near the city of Hulunbuir. No casualties were reported. More than 2,700 people are battling to guard against resurging forest fires in the region.