5 now dead after China coach explosion

The death toll from an explosion on a coach in northwest China's Shaanxi province on Sunday has risen to five after a critically injured passenger was confirmed dead. (CNS photo)

The death toll from an explosion on a coach in northwest China's Shaanxi province on Sunday has risen to five after a critically injured passenger was confirmed dead.

An official said at a press conference on Monday morning that the passenger died earlier in the day after being transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital of Xi'an for better treatment.

Police are still working with forensic experts to determine the cause of the blast.

It occurred when the vehicle was running on a road near a coach station in Pucheng county of Weinan city, leaving 24 injured in addition to those killed.

Authorities have identified four of the five dead. Two of them are from Pucheng while another two are from Xi'an.

All of the 24 injured, including two children, are in stable conditions while the injuries they sustained are mostly burns, fractures and minor concussions, authorities added.