An explosion in a petroleum refinery in northeastern China's Jilin province killed at least three people and injured another eight, authorities said. The blast, which set off a fire, occurred late Sunday at a refinery in Songyuan, city officials told Xinhua news agency. Firefighters had to evacuate nearly 3,000 local residents before bringing the blaze under control, the state-run news agency said. The cause of the blast was under investigation.