China's far western region of Xinjiang was investigating an explosion which killed or injured around 100 people, and police said on Saturday it was too early to determine the cause.

A truck carrying explosives blew up in the western suburbs of the region's capital Urumqi on Friday night, also injuring 309.

The Xinhua said the explosives had been intended for disposal, suggesting an accident.

The explosives detonated as the vehicle was on the city's Xishan Road at 7:30 p.m., damaging more than 20 other vehicles and nearby houses, Xinhua said.

The agency, quoting sources at the Ministry of Public Security in the city, did not give the exact number of people killed.

The vast, sparsely inhabited Xinjiang region, largely desert, has many Chinese military and nuclear installations and civilian mining.

China's far western region of Xinjiang was investigating an explosion which killed or injured around 100 people, and police said on Saturday it was too early to determine the cause.

A truck carrying explosives blew up in the western suburbs of the region's capital Urumqi on Friday night, also injuring 309.

The agency, quoting sources at the Ministry of Public Security in the city, did not give the exact number of people killed.

The Xinhua said the explosives had been intended for disposal, suggesting an accident.

The explosives detonated as the vehicle was on the city's Xishan Road at 7:30 p.m., damaging more than 20 other vehicles and nearby houses, Xinhua said.

The vast, sparsely inhabited Xinjiang region, largely desert, has many Chinese military and nuclear installations and civilian mining.

China's far western region of Xinjiang was investigating an explosion which killed or injured around 100 people, and police said on Saturday it was too early to determine the cause.

A truck carrying explosives blew up in the western suburbs of the region's capital Urumqi on Friday night, also injuring 309.

The Xinhua said the explosives had been intended for disposal, suggesting an accident.

The explosives detonated as the vehicle was on the city's Xishan Road at 7:30 p.m., damaging more than 20 other vehicles and nearby houses, Xinhua said.

The agency, quoting sources at the Ministry of Public Security in the city, did not give the exact number of people killed.

The vast, sparsely inhabited Xinjiang region, largely desert, has many Chinese military and nuclear installations and civilian mining.