A man who failed to obtain overdue wages killed himself in Guangzhou on Friday by triggering explosives attached to his body, witnesses said.

Seven other people were wounded in the incident in the Guangdong provincial capital. They were sent to a hospital.

The public security bureau in Guangzhou said police received a report of an explosion at 3:53 pm. Police and firefighters led people from the area.

An initial investigation found the man had been seeking overdue wages at a company in Tianhe North Road. Witnesses said he set off the explosives attached to his body after being refused.

A man living in the building where the company is based said he heard a huge sound in his room and found the elevator was not functioning due to the explosion.

He heard neighbors saying the man had been demanding payment on the 28th floor of the building. There was an argument and a security guard was brought in to mediate but the two sides failed to reach an agreement, after which the man triggered the explosives, killing himself, and injuring the guard and six staff members.

With the elevator out of action, the dead man and the injured were carried to the rooftop, which connects to another exit.

The man living in the building said it is home to several companies, but could not identify the name of the firm the man who was owed wages was dealing with. The company could not be reached on Friday and the building was cordoned off by police.

The explosion is being investigated, police said.