An explosion killed 12 villagers and injured 24 in the village of Xima, Tongliang County in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Thursday.

The blast occurred at 4 PM in a teahouse on the ground floor of the building. Nine were killed instantly in the explosion and three died on their way to the hospital.

Both the dead and injured were having tea when the blast occurred.

Officials from Chongqing Municipality went to the village to guide rescue work.

The origin of the explosion is now under investigation, but authorities say they have excluded a gas leak as a possible cause.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2004)