Twenty-five people were confirmed dead and 33 injured in an explosion at a karaoke parlor in northeast China on Wednesday night, local sources said.

Rescuers had finished clearing up the debris and found 25 bodies, according to the Liaoning provincial government.

The explosion happened at 8:50 PM in Tianshifu Township, Benxi Autonomous County of Manchu Nationality. Four of the injured are reported to be in a serious condition.

Local government officials have ordered that every effort be made to rescue the victims and identify the cause of the accident.

An investigation is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2007)