CHENGDU - One person was killed and at least 24 injured in a bus blast in Yibin, Southwest China's Sichuan province on Monday, the municipal authorities said.

The blast happened at 4:50 pm when it was traveling along Nanmen Bridge, said Hu Jingwen, a 12-year-old girl who was sitting on the last row of the vehicle.

Hu said she smelt gasoline before fire suddenly broke out at the back door of the bus. She managed to escape from the back window together with two of her classmates.

She is receiving treatment at No.3 People's Hospital of Yibin City. According to the hospital, eight injured people are receiving treatment and another 16 were taken to two other hospitals.

Around 50 passengers were on the bus and most of them escaped through the front door, she said.

The preliminary result showed the blast was the result of arson, and a suspect has been identified, officials said.