China Factory Blast Kills Two, Injures 24

China Factory Blast Kills Two, Injures 24
The Songhuajiang River is seen on January 19, 2007 in Jilin City of Jilin Province, China. The River was polluted after an explosion at a chemical plant November 13, 2005. (China Photos/Getty Images)
Reuters
11/24/2018
Updated:
11/24/2018

BEIJING—Two people were killed and 24 others injured in an explosion at a machinery plant in the northern Chinese province of Jilin, the local government said on Nov. 24.

At least 41 houses were damaged in the blast and a subsequent fire which began shortly before midnight on Nov. 23, it said.

The cause of the explosion was not released.

Rescue efforts were ongoing on the morning of Nov. 24 and people had been evacuated from the area. Scores of police, fire fighters and medical personnel had been sent to the scene.

The Chinese Communist Party has pledged to improve safety in factories, though explosions and other incidents are still commonplace.

In August, five people were killed in an explosion at an aluminum plant in the eastern city of Jiangsu, while in July, 19 people died in a blast at a chemical plant in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

Earlier this month two people were killed in a factory explosion in the city of Ningbo.