Chinese authorities say several explosions have rocked the county seat of southern Guangxi province, killing at least three people and injuring as many as 13.

The Liucheng County public security bureau confirmed that the explosions occurred in 13 different places including a shopping mall, jail, supermarket, rail station, a hospital and an open air market. The official Xinhua news agency is reporting that the explosions may have been caused by parcel bombs.

Photos on social media showed one building partially collapsed, cars overturned in the streets and what appeared to be the blown out remains of a shop front.

The explosions happened in rapid succession, according to accounts online, and one picture showed a man lying on the ground near an overturned car. Rubble was strewn all over the area.

Another image just after the blast showed a mushroom cloud billowing hundreds of meters into the air.

One photo appeared to show a government building with its windows blown out.

Violent attacks over longstanding disputes are not uncommon in China, but the number of explosions that occurred in succession is rare.

 
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