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One dead after shopping center explosion

Xinhua, February 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least one person is dead and several others injured after an explosion at a shopping centre in northeast Perth on Tuesday.

It is believed a power transformer exploded just after 9:30 a.m. local time at the Morley Galleria shopping centre, 8 kilometers north of the city's CBD.

Channel Seven reporter Amelia Broun tweeted witnesses had described seeing four people running out of the centre on fire, burning from head to toe and screaming for help.

A Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) spokesperson said one man was hospitalized with burns to 80 percent of his body while another two suffered burns to 60 percent of their bodies.

A fourth man was confirmed dead by Western Australia Police.

St John Ambulance said half a dozen people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and stress and a RPH spokesperson said some may require hospitalization.

It is believed the men injured were in a back room working on an electricity transformer before it exploded and sent the men running into the carpark.

One witness, Christine Saarinsen, told News Corp Australia of seeing"a wall of flames" coming out of the side of the shopping centre and at least three people in flames.

In a statement, WA Police confirmed the accident was under investigation. "The cause of the explosion is unknown and WA Police will be working with WorkSafe and EnergySafety personnel as part of the investigation. A report will be prepared for the Coroner,"it said. Endi