National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Oil tank blast kills at least 2 in Xinjiang

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-25 22:47

URUMQI  -- An oil tank blew up Wednesday afternoon in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, killing at least two workers, local authorities said.

The explosion happened around 4 p.m. at the Fukang Iron Coke Co. Ltd. in Fukang City, in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, said a Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Work Safety Administration spokesman.

The tank contained 2,000 cubic meters of coal tar, a viscous black liquid containing numerous organic compounds used as a roofing, waterproofing and insulating compound and as a raw material for many dyes, drugs and paints.

A source said a number of workers were missing after the explosion, but the information couldn't be independently verified.

An investigation team headed by Sheng Shaokun, Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Work Safety Administration deputy director, was probing the accident.