Society

Factory explosion kills 7, injures 49 in N China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-25 08:51

SHIJIAZHUANG: Seven people died and 49 others were injured in an explosion at a starch factory in north China's Hebei province Wednesday afternoon, local authorities said late Wednesday.

Five others were left missing after the explosion ripped through a workshop of the Qinhuangdao Lihua Starch Co Ltd in Funing county, in Qinhuangdao city, at about 4 pm Wednesday, a city government spokesman said.

All the injured were treated at a local hospital, and one of them was described in severe condition.

An initial investigation showed that it was a dust explosion, the spokesman said.

Authorities of work safety, public security, fire control, health, civil affairs and construction are continuing the investigation into the accident, he said.

The company has been ordered to halt production, and a vice general manager of the company and director of the workshop have been controlled by police, he said.

The government has decided to launch a two-month overhaul of work safety in the city, he said.

The privately-run company mainly produces starch and glucose, and it has 2,800 employees, according to its official website.