Fertilizer factory explosion in China leaves 47 dead, 640 injured
What's the story
An explosion at an industrial park in eastern China left 47 dead and over 600 injured yesterday.
The death toll increased as a number of people succumbed to their injuries this morning.
The explosion occurred following a fire in a fertilizer factory in the chemical industrial park in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, according to the government of Xiangshui county.
Read the details here.
Details
Mild tremor caused by blast knocked down buildings near plant
32 among the injured ones were in a critical condition, the local authority stated.
The Ministry of Emergency Management said 88 people have been rescued from the site of the incident.
Eye-witnesses said several workers were trapped after buildings were knocked down by the shockwave stated to be a mild tremor caused by the blast, which took place in a pesticide plant.
Action
Firefighters mobilized 176 trucks, 928 personnel to join rescue mission
The massive blast even shattered windows of nearby residential houses.
The fire fighter brigade of Jiangsu has mobilized 176 fire trucks with 928 personnel to join the rescue mission, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.
A professor of applied chemistry at Beijing University of Chemical Technology said the leak of toxic chemicals might have affected the people and environment in the surrounding areas.
Comment
Residents should be evacuated as soon as possible: Professor
The professor, in an interview with CCTV, said that the residents should be evacuated from the place as soon as possible.
According to the city's environmental protection authority, the explosion had a negative influence on the air quality in the chemical park and its surrounding areas within a 500-meter radius, but the strong winds are expected to lift the heavy smoke.
Reason
Explosion caused by benzene, occurred in plant's production area: BYD
No residents live in the chemical-park, while all people in nearby areas have been evacuated, officials said.
Yancheng's education-department said school students were among those injured in the explosion.
Online maps of the area indicate that there are at least 10 schools close to the site.
Beijing Youth Daily reported that the explosion was caused by benzene and occurred in the plant's production area.
About
Jiangsu Tianjiayi owns the plant, manufactures products like hydroxybenzoic acid
Production at other plants in the area was not affected, the youth daily reported.
A witness surnamed Xie living about 1.5-km from the plant told Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that all her windows were shattered by the blast.
Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Company, which owns the plant, was established in 2007.
Its business includes the manufacture of chemical products such as hydroxybenzoic acid.