Officials of Longyan City attend press conference on an explosion that toppled a residential building and killed nine people in Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, April 15, 2012. A blast ripped through a garage in Subang Village in Longyan City Sunday morning, toppling an adjoining residential building owned by Subang Coal Mine. The explosion was caused by explosives illegally stored in the garage. (Xinhua/Chen Wang)

An explosion that toppled a residential building and killed nine in east China's Fujian Province Sunday morning was caused by explosives illegally stored in a garage, local authorities said.

Police have detained the owner of the garage, which belongs to a transport company, and the investigation is under way, the city government said in a press release Sunday night.

A blast ripped through the garage in Subang Village in the Longyan City at 10:35 a.m. toppling an adjoining residential building owned by Shubang Coal Mine, local officials said.

Nine people were confirmed dead, while 36 others had been hospitalized, among whom three were in serious conditions, and 19 others sustained minor injuries.