Death toll of south China factory blast rises to 18

GUANGZHOU - The death toll of a factory blast in south China's Guangdong province rose to 18 as an injured worked died in hospital on Saturday, local authorities said.

The blast occurred at about 9:30 am on Wednesday at Fuwa Engineering Machinery Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in the Shunde District of the industrial city of Foshan, killing 17 people and injuring another 33.

As of Saturday noon, 11 were in critical condition and 17 were slightly injured. Four have left hospital after treatment, according to a statement from the Foshan district government.

Fuwa, founded in 1997, is a global trailer axle and chassis component manufacturer. It was expected to invest 2.26 billion yuan ($370 million) to build its headquarters in Foshan.