Chemical plant blast sees 10,000 evacuated

A SERIES of explosions rocked a chemical plant in northeastern China yesterday forcing the evacuation of 10,000 people, state media said.

No deaths were reported, but witnesses said that dozens of people were taken to hospital.

The blasts occurred between early afternoon local time (around 6.30am Irish time) at the No 101 Chemical Plant in Jilin City in China’s northeast.

A man who answered the telephone at the No 101 plant, but refused to give his name, said that he didn’t know if any workers were in the facility at the time of the explosions, and he had no details on deaths and injuries.

“All things are not clear now,” said another man who answered the phone at the Jilin Petroleum and Chemical Company, which runs the plant. He would not identify himself.

An official with the Jilin City government said the cause was under investigation. He also refused to identify himself.

“Leaders were directing rescue work at the blast site,” he said.

State television showed footage of the thunderous explosions, which shook the area. Enormous clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky. The report gave no details of the reason for the blasts.

According to Xinhua, witnesses said dozens of people were taken to hospital.

A woman who answered the telephone at the Jilin Chemical Industry Company Hospital, under the main petroleum company, said about 40 to 50 people were receiving treatment. She hung up when asked for details.

At the Jilin Central Hospital, a doctor in the emergency department said “several people with minor injuries” were brought in.