6 dead, hundreds of firefighters battle blaze after explosion at Chinese pesticide plant
- Children among injured as blast at Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical plant damages nearby residential buildings, school and vehicles
- Magnitude 2.2 earthquake detected in the province
More than 900 firefighters are battling a blaze that erupted after a powerful explosion ripped through a pesticide plant in eastern China on Thursday, killing at least six people and badly injuring dozens of others, including children.
State-run news agency Xinhua reported that the blast occurred at a plant owned by Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical at the Chenjiagang Industrial Park in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, just before 3pm.
The explosion was so powerful that the China Earthquake Administration reported that it had detected a magnitude 2.2 earthquake believed to be from the blast.
“Workers were trapped after buildings were knocked down by the shock wave, which also shattered windows of nearby homes,” Xinhua reported. “Witnesses said many workers were seen running out of the factory covered in blood after the blast.”
The Yangtse Evening Post reported that windows of nearby residential buildings and a school were shattered and dozens of cars parked nearby were badly damaged. Many people were injured by the flying debris and residents helped to take the injured to hospital, it said.
