An explosion that occurred in a garage in east China's Fujian province has killed 12 people after police confirmed that three workers who went missing after the blast were killed in the explosion.

The blast, caused by explosives illegally stored in the garage, also toppled an adjoining residential building and injured 55 people in the village of Subang near the city of Longyan.

Police conducted DNA tests on body parts found at the site and found that they belonged to three garage employees who were unaccounted for following the explosion, according to the city's publicity department.

Nine people were pronounced dead immediately after the explosion, which occurred at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in the garage belonging to a local transportation company.

The owner of the garage has been placed under police custody.

Among the injured, more than 30 remain hospitalized, including three in critical condition, said an official with the city's health bureau.