A powerful explosion recorded this Tuesday at a chemical plant located in the city of Weifang, Shandong province, in eastern China, left at least five people dead and 19 others injured, according to state media reports. Six people are still missing.
The explosion occurred at the facilities of Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co., a company dedicated to the production of pesticides and chemical compounds for medical use, which employs more than 500 workers. The causes of the incident are still under investigation.
The impact of the explosion was so strong that it broke windows more than three kilometers from the site, according to residents’ testimonies. A local citizen reported that his house shook from the blast wave and that he could observe a dense column of smoke more than seven kilometers from the epicenter.
More than 230 firefighters were deployed in the area to contain the flames and search for the missing. Local authorities maintain a security cordon around the affected area while rescue and investigation efforts continue.
