Source:
https://scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3019433/death-toll-rises-10-after-blast-gas-plant-central-china
China/ People & Culture

Death toll rises to 10 after blast at gas plant in central China

  • 19 people seriously hurt and five still missing after explosion at Henan Coal Gas Group factory
  • Force of blast shatters windows and doors of buildings in a 3km radius
At least 10 people have died following an explosion at a gas plant in central China. Photo: Xinhua

The death toll from an explosion at a gas plant in central China has risen to 10, state media said on Saturday, with five people still missing.

Friday’s blast at the Henan Coal Gas Group factory, which shattered windows and doors of buildings in a 3km (1.9 mile) radius, also left 19 people seriously injured and more with light injuries, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The explosion occurred in the air separation unit of Henan Coal’s factory, it said, with those hurt sent to four different hospitals. All production at the plant has been halted.

“Many windows and doors within a 3km radius were shattered, and some interior doors were also blown out by the blast,” the broadcaster said on its Twitter-like Weibo social media account.

Local media showed amateur videos of a massive column of black smoke billowing from the factory and debris littering the roads.

Other images showed the doors and windows of homes blown out and shuttered shops with dented metal fronts.

A bloodied man was seen being helped out of a van in a video posted on social media, though the authenticity of the footage has not been verified.

The blast shattered windows and doors of buildings in a 3km (1.9 mile) radius. Photo: AP
The blast shattered windows and doors of buildings in a 3km (1.9 mile) radius. Photo: AP

Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced.

In March, a blast at a chemical plant in eastern Jiangsu province killed 78 people and injured hundreds.

The powerful explosion in the city of Yancheng toppled several buildings in the industrial estate, blew out windows of nearby homes and even dented metal garage doors.

Authorities detained two dozen people in connection with the March 21 blast, which prompted the government to order a nationwide inspection of chemical firms.

A week later, seven people died following an explosion at an electronics component manufacturer in the same province.

In November, a gas leak at a plant in the northern city of Zhangjiakou, which will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, killed 24 people and injured 21 others.

In 2015, China suffered one of its worst industrial accidents when giant chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people.