Two people died in an explosion at a chemical plant

Two people died in an explosion at a chemical plant in China

An explosion at a chemical plant in northeast China has killed two people, injured 34 and missing 12, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday.

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The explosion happened at a factory in Panshan County, Liaoning Province on Sunday afternoon, the TV said.

“The fire is currently under control, the last flames have stabilized,” according to CCTV.

Videos and photos released by TV show thick plumes of black smoke and flames rising from the factory and a group of helmeted firefighters outside the building.

According to CCTV, more than 330 firefighters were mobilized to bring the blaze under control.

Accidents at work are commonplace in China and are often caused by insufficient compliance with safety regulations.

In December, 18 people were trapped underground after a gold mine collapse in the Xinjiang region (northwest).

And in November, a factory fire in the center of the country killed 38 people.

One of the most serious industrial accidents occurred in Tianjin (North) in 2015. At least 165 people died in a gigantic explosion in a chemical warehouse in the large port city 120 kilometers south-east of Beijing.