A private home was destroyed in a blast early on Wednesday in southeast China's Fujian Province, killing four dead and injuring six others.
   
Local police said the blast, caused by explosives illegally stored by a local coalmine owner, happened at around 1:00 AM in Huangtian Village, Yongding County.

The explosion toppled at least six houses in the vicinity. One person was killed on the spot and three others died in hospital.

In related news, an explosion early on Tuesday in a spice company in south China's Guangdong Province killed two workers and injured three others, according to local government reports.
  
A blast ripped through the Tonghui Spice Co. Ltd. in Yangjiang city at about 12:00 AM Tuesday.
  
According to sources with the company, a fire broke out first, melting containers and equipment, which then triggered the blast.

Also in Guangdong Province, thousands of residents around a Panyu apartment block were evacuated on Monday evening as bomb experts were called in to disarm a bomb that a cleaner found in the building, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Tuesday. No casualties have been reported.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2005)