Blaze strikes Nanjing state oil refinery for the second time in hours after initial blast

A state-run oil refinery in Nanjing is still in flames from an oil tank fire after firefighters thought they had stemmed a five-hour blaze from an earlier explosion.

Some 200 firefighters and 20 fire engines were dispatched to the burning refinery owned by the Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company after a blast rocked the site at around noon yesterday.

By 5pm, the fire was thought to be put out. But some hours later, flames raged again after combustible material in an oil tank ignited.

The latest fire has not yet been completely extinguished as of this morning, according to state news agency Xinhua. No casualties have been reported so far.

There were no reports of a water contamination, but a strong, pungent odour has filled the air.