Two killed, 34 injured in China chemical plant explosion

Beijing: At least two people have been killed while 34 others sustained serious injuries in a massive explosion at a chemical plant in northeastern China. 

According to the details, the explosion occurred Sunday on the outskirts of the city of Panjin in Liaoning province east of the capital Beijing, which left 12 missing.  

News releases showed photos of flames and thick black smoke rising from the complex of chemical processing machinery, pipes and storage containers. 

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. 

People posting on social media said they felt the shock of blast, but the damage did not appear to extend beyond the plant.  

Panjin chemical plant explodes

A chemical plant in Panjin, Northeast China's Liaoning province exploded on Sunday afternoon, according to the Panshan county government. pic.twitter.com/ERfzNTFyHK

— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) January 15, 2023

Fire crews have brought the blaze under control and the local environmental department was monitoring the impact on air quality in the area, said authorities. 

Notably, China with the world’s second-largest economy, suffers deadly industrial accidents on a regular basis. 

The central government has pledged stronger safety measures ever since an explosion in 2015 at a chemical warehouse in the northern port city of Tianjin killed 173 people, most of them firefighters and police officials.