At least 37 people were killed and many injured at a crowded holiday gathering outside Beijing on the final day of China's Lunar New Year celebration.
The official Xinhua News Agency's brief report quoted police sources and gave no details. It said the accident - whose nature it didn't specify - occurred in Miyun County, a suburb of the Chinese capital.
"A great number of people died and many injured in the Lantern Festival gathering," Xinhua said.
A doctor at Miyun County Hospital said: "As far as I know, 37 people were killed and 15 were injured."
The Lantern Festival is a celebration that marks the last night of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration.
Miyun County is about 45 miles from central Beijing and is the site of Miyun Reservoir, one of the largest in China and a key supply of water to the capital.
It is technically within the administrative limits of Beijing, which is actually a large district that includes the city and surrounding areas.
AP