Deadly parcel bombs rock southern China region of Guangxi

Story highlights

At least seven people are killed in a series of explosions in southern China

The blasts are believed to have been caused by parcel bombs, local media report

Police have named a 33-year-old man as a suspect, Xinhua news agency says

CNN  — 

At least seven people have been killed and 51 others injured after multiple blasts in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, according to local media.

Initial investigations suggest the explosions were caused by 17 parcel bombs in the seat of Liucheng county and the surrounding area, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Emergency services rushed to the scenes of the blasts, which caused severe damage to buildings and vehicles, it said. The first occurred around 3:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Police named a 33-year-old man from Liucheng Tai Po town as a suspect in the explosions and said their investigations were continuing, Xinhua reported.

The People’s Daily, a national newspaper, said the suspect paid couriers to deliver the letter bombs across Liucheng. A further 60 suspicious parcels had been identified and bomb disposal units were “on their way.”

On Thursday, Xinhua reported another explosion at a residential building at around 8 am. There were no initial reports of casualties.

It added there had been separate explosions at locations including a shopping mall, prison, hospital, public service dormitories and vegetable market.

Authorities said they had ruled out a terrorist attack.

CNN’s Elaine Ly, Kevin Wang and Bex Wright contributed to this report.