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Human error blamed for fuel blast

A blast at a petrol station that killed four people in Shanghai at the weekend was caused by improper maintenance, state media has reported.

The powerful explosion, which occurred around 8am on Saturday in Pudong district, injured more than 30 other people, and damaged buildings and cars.

Xinhua quoted Shanghai Public Security Bureau yesterday saying workers had pressurised petrol storage tanks that had fuel remaining inside, triggering the blast. The station had been closed for maintenance.

Shanghai authorities have identified the bodies of the four who died, including two of the maintenance workers. The other victims, both from Anhui , were a 29-year-old man who was riding a motorcycle nearby and a female cyclist, 42. Both were killed by flying debris.

The Shanghai Pacific Gas Company, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Shenergy Company, was responsible for the maintenance work, which started on November 11.

Authorities are still investigating whether the workers were professionally trained and operating legally.

Of the 32 injured, including many passengers on a bus, two remain in hospital under observation. The other 30 were released from hospital on Saturday.

Witnesses said the explosion produced a loud blast followed by heavy smoke and a cloud of dust and debris.

Traffic around the accident area had returned to normal, but the exact extent of the damage to property was unknown, local media reported.

Yesterday, the city said it had finished installing 'blast-proof' technology in the first of 18 petrol stations and authorities will continue a ban on using mobile phones at stations.

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