(UTV|COLOMBO) – The death toll in a huge blast at a chemical plant in eastern China has jumped to 44, with 640 injured, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The powerful explosion followed a fire at the factory, which produces fertiliser.
China’s earthquake administration reported a tremor equivalent to 2.2-magnitude at the time of the blast.
The death toll makes it one of the country’s worst industrial accidents in recent years.
The blast happened at about 14:50 local time (06:50 GMT) on Thursday at a plant in Yancheng, run by Tianjiayi Chemical.
According to Xinhua, a total of 640 people were sent to hospital. Some 32 are in a critical condition and 58 have severe injuries, the agency reports.
Images on social media showed a fireball exploding at the site, billowing clouds enveloping the area, injured people, and damage to buildings.
The blast was so powerful that it knocked down factory buildings some distance away, trapping workers, according to local media.
Staff at the Henglida Chemical Factory, 3km (1.8 miles) from the explosion, said its roof collapsed as they fled, and windows and doors were blown out.
Provincial authorities said firefighters had to be brought in from across the province.
The fire was brought under control at around 0300 local time on Friday, state TV said.
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