At around 6 pm on December 14, a localised rupture occurred in a heating pipeline at an intersection in Huainan City, Anhui Province.

Surveillance footage shows the explosion caused a massive shockwave, sending chunks of concrete flying off the road and prompting pedestrians to run for cover. Witnesses reported that the blast created a large crater in the road, with thick white smoke billowing from the hole.

Several parked cars nearby sustained varying degrees of damage, including one car whose trunk was partially destroyed by falling concrete debris. Some residents also reported that the glass windows in their apartments, even as high as the 21st floor, were shattered by the shockwave.

The Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Tianjiaan District in Huainan City issued a statement, confirming that the explosion resulted in minor injuries to four passersby. Fortunately, all of them were promptly taken to the hospital and are not in life-threatening condition.

That evening, repair crews quickly assembled to conduct emergency repairs on the damaged heating pipeline. Relevant Huainan authorities held an emergency meeting overnight to launch a full investigation into the cause of the incident and stated that they would hold those responsible strictly accountable.