Inspectors to assess chemical hazards

The central government has ordered a national inspection to assess potential hazards of chemicals and safety risks at all chemical industry parks across the country, following an explosion on Thursday in Jiangsu province that claimed the lives of at least 78 people.

Fourteen more bodies were found as rescue teams thoroughly searched 20 enterprises in a chemical industrial park where the blast occurred in Xiangshui county, said Cao Lubao, mayor of Yancheng, the city that administers the county.

The explosion occurred at about 2:48 pm after a fire broke out in a plant owned by Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co.