Explosion at chemical plant in China’s Shandong Province

World Today

Explosion at chemical plant in China's Shandong Province

One person was killed and nine others were injured after a blast ripped through a chemical plant in Zibo City, east China’s Shandong Province on Saturday night, local authorities said early Sunday morning.

The explosion occurred at Shandong Runxing Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. at 20:56 in Dongfu Village, Huantai County after a separator caught fire, according to the county government’s publicity office.

Firefighters from seven fire detachments arrived immediately at the scene with 20 fire trucks after receiving the alarm. After five hours’ efforts, the fire was put out at around 01:50 on Sunday.

The environmental protection departments of both Zibo City and Huantai County said they have not detected any contamination after the blast.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

With a registered capital of 200 million yuan ($31.3 million), the plant is a subsidiary of Shandong’s Runxing Group. It produces chemicals, such as adiponitrile, a colorless liquid that can burn when coming in contact with fire. It can release toxic fumes after decomposing on heating or burning.

The blast came 10 days after warehouse explosions in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, which left 121 people dead and 54 missing.