Huge blast in China’s chemical plant, no info on casualties yet; factory has over 500 employees

A powerful explosion rocked a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong province on Tuesday, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and shattering windows kilometers away, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The blast occurred around noon at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. facility, located in an industrial park in the city of Weifang. The plant produces pesticides and chemicals used in medical applications and employs more than 500 people, according to corporate records.

The blast was powerful enough to knock out the windows at a storage warehouse more than two miles (three kilometers) away from the factory, according to a video shared by a local resident.

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A resident living more than seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the plant said his home shook from the blast. A video he shared showed a large plume of smoke rising from the area. He said windows were shattered at a storage warehouse over three kilometers (two miles) from the factory.

Local authorities have not yet confirmed any casualties, but emergency crews have been dispatched to the site. CCTV said more than 230 firefighting personnel were sent to respond. The Weifang Ecological Environment Bureau has dispatched staff to test the site of the blast and advised nearby residents to wear face masks in the meantime, Beijing News reported.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

With inputs from AP