TEHRAN, Jan. 08 (MNA) – A building housing a canteen in Chongqing in China's southwest collapsed on Friday after an explosion suspected to have been caused by a gas leak, killing at least 16.

As of midnight (1600 GMT) on Friday, 26 people had been taken from the site, 16 of whom had died, the broadcaster said on Saturday, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday.

One person was in critical condition and the other injured people were also in hospital.

The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a team of more than 600 personnel to the scene in Chongqing's Wulong district, CCTV said.

ZZ/PR