At least 5 killed after fire rips through chemical plant in China
At least five people were killed after a fire tore through a chemical plant in eastern China 's Shandong province, sending thick plumes of smoke soaring into the sky.
Smoke was still rising from the smouldering facility as emergency services tended to the site amid reports that six people were missing since the incident.
Fire engulfed the factory operated by Shandong Youdao Chemical in Gaomi city, around 450km southeast of the national capital Beijing, soon after a blast rocked the area just before noon on Tuesday.
The powerful blast reportedly sent debris flying more than a kilometre away.
The city's fire department dispatched 55 vehicles and 232 personnel to tackle the blaze along with national fire and rescue teams deployed by the ministry of emergency management.
The search and rescue operation and cleanup work continued into the night, the local emergency management bureau said.
Authorities were yet to release the results of unspecified tests carried out at the site of the explosion.
People living near the chemical plant were assessing damage to their village and monitoring the wind, fearful of toxic fallout from the blast.
The villagers said their houses were "shaken" by the blast. Shortly after, the streets were covered with broken glass and appliances blown out of their homes, according to local reports.
Yu Qianming, a 69-year-old farmer, showed Reuters roofing that had fallen in and windows that had shattered, but said nobody in his home had suffered any injuries.
Mr Yu said he and his wife felt safe in their home as long as the wind continued to blow north but added that they had moved their grandchild elsewhere as a precaution.
Shandong Youdao Chemical was established in August 2019 in the Gaomi Renhe chemical park, according to the company's website.
The factory, spread over 116 acres, develops and produces chemical components for use in pesticides and pharmaceuticals, employing more than 300 people.
Fire incidents remain a recurring problem in China, with dozens of people killed in fire-related incidents last year. Industrial accidents occur frequently, usually related to a lack of safety measures and illegal construction and storage.
In 2015, at least 170 people were killed and hundreds suffered injuries in explosions at warehouses containing flammable chemicals in the port city of Tianjin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
42 minutes ago
- Reuters
Fact Check: Clip shows 2015 China explosions, not 2025 Iranian attacks on Israel
Footage of two nighttime explosions in the northeastern Chinese city of Tianjin in 2015 has been falsely described by social media users as showing an Iranian strike on the port of Haifa, Israel, during aerial battles between the two regional rivals. Israel began attacking Iran on June 13, saying it aimed to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. Iran has since retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel, and says its nuclear programme is peaceful. "BREAKING: The blast at Haifa Port is set to be remembered in history as one of Iran's most lethal and strategically devastating strikes," a June 14 X post, opens new tab with 1.6 million views captioned the 48-second clip, which shows a large fireball followed by two explosions. On the night of June 15 an Iranian missile barrage struck a residential street in Haifa, which the national emergency services said injured nine people. On June 16, Israel's Haifa-based Bazan Group said it closed its power station in Haifa Bay after it was significantly damaged by an Iranian attack on June 15, opens new tab, resulting in the death of three employees. Some Facebook posts, opens new tab falsely described the video as showing Tel Aviv, which has also been hit by Iranian strikes since June 13. However, the video was filmed in 2015 and shows explosions in Tianjin's industrial zone. The BBC posted the same video to YouTube, opens new tab and its website, opens new tab on August 14, 2015. Reuters reported that two enormous explosions on August 12, 2015, ripped through an industrial area in the port city where toxic gas and chemicals were stored, killing 173 people, opens new tab. Miscaptioned. The clip shows explosions in an industrial area of China's northeastern city of Tianjin in 2015. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Firefighters rescue two from blaze in St Austell
Firefighters have rescued two people from a burning building in St Austell, from St Austell and St Dennis were called to the fire in Trevail Way at 19:22 BST on Friday, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service entered the building and helped the two trapped residents to safety before extinguishing the operation was supported by additional fire engines from Fowey and Lostwithiel, as well as Devon and Cornwall Police and South Western Ambulance Service. The fire on the first floor is now out, and an investigation is under way.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Former golf club building badly damaged in fire
A former golf club building has been badly damaged in a and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said firefighters were called to the derelict structure on Christchurch Road, Longham at about 18:00 of the scene showed smoke billowing from the former Dudsbury Golf Club said it was "well alight" when firefighters arrived and warned nearby residents to keep doors and windows closed. About 40 firefighters tackled the blaze at its service said crews remained on the scene at 21:00 but some appliances were being released. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
