At least five dead and 19 injured in chemical plant explosion in China – reports
The huge blast rocked the facility in the country’s eastern Shandong province at around midday on Tuesday.
At least five people have died and 19 have been injured in a chemical plant explosion in eastern China, state broadcaster CCTV has reported.
The huge blast rocked the facility in the country’s eastern Shandong province at around midday on Tuesday, the broadcaster said, with thick plumes of black smoke visible from the site.
The authorities said six people remained missing.
The blast was powerful enough to knock out the windows at a storage warehouse more than two miles (3km) away from the factory, according to a video shared by a local resident.
His home shook from the blast, he said. As he went to the window to see what was wrong, he saw a tall column of smoke from the site, more than four miles (7km) away.
The explosion happened at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co, which is located in an industrial park in the city of Weifang. It manufactures pesticides as well as chemicals for medical use, and has more than 500 employees according to corporate registration records.
Rescuers have been dispatched to the scene of the incident, but authorities have yet to announce if there are any casualties. Local fire
officials sent more than 230 personnel to the scene, according to CCTV.
