Eight hurt and six missing in Gansu explosion

At least eight people were injured and six went missing in an explosion at a pesticide manufacturing company in Lanzhou, Gansu province, on Thursday.

The blast happened at the company's sewage treatment unit. Preliminary investigation showed that there was no smoke, fire or toxic gas in the 600-square-meter site of the explosion. It also ruled out secondary hazards.

The company, Gansu Binnong Technology, is located in the city's Qinchuan Fine Chemical Industrial Park. Registered in 2020, it mainly produces pesticides and pesticide intermediates.

Yin Hong, Gansu Party secretary, went to the site to help with the rescue work and visited the injured in hospital. He ordered all-out effort to save the injured and find the missing people, strengthen supervision of the company to prevent secondary hazards and set up an investigation team immediately to thoroughly probe the accident.

Li Peixing, vice-governor of Gansu, led the rescue team formed by the provincial emergency management and the provincial fire departments at the explosion site. The provincial health commission has organized medical experts to help with onsite rescue work.