National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Two chemical plant explosions kill 5, injure over 100

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-15 14:18

ZHENGZHOU/CHONGQING: A pair of chemical plant explosions in China killed five workers and injured more than 100 Wednesday, the local governments confirmed.

Firefighters try to put out a fire caused by an explosion at a chemical plant of Luoran Co., Ltd in Luoyang City, central China's Henan province, July 15, 2009. The explosion, which occurred at 2 am, and the following fire killed five factory workers and injured more than 100 others, local government officials said. [Xinhua]

All five deaths were reported at Luoran Co. Ltd in Luoyang City of  central Henan Province, where a blast went off at 2 am, the emergency rescue headquarters said.

They were among a total of seven people working on night shift, it said. The other two workers are missing.

Related readings:  Iron mine explosion leaves eight dead in N China  Central China wholesale market explosion kills two  Illegal practice blamed for SW China mine explosion  Victims identified in E.China fireworks explosion  Detonators cause explosion in mining firm building

Following the blast, the factory zone was engulfed in flames that injured more than 100 people and evacuated several hundred others who lived within a radius of 1,000 meters.

The fire had been put out as of 12 pm.

Luoran Co. Ltd, which employees 180, produces chemicals for the dyeing industry. Its products are also exported to Japan, Britain and several southeast Asian countries.

A similar accident injured eight people at Changshou Chemical Co. Ltd in Changshou District of southwestern Chongqing Municipality at around 9 a.m. Wednesday, the local government confirmed.

It said six of the victims face life-threatening injuries.

The state-owned company employs more than 4,000 people.