20 killed in explosives plant blast

A blast at an explosives plant in eastern China killed at least 20 workers and injured two, the government said today.

The blast occurred on Saturday at an explosives packing workshop owned by 761 Explosive Co. Ltd. in Zhaoyuan city, in the coastal province of Shandong, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing a local official.

The report said 31 people were in the workshop when the blast occurred. Rescuers were searching today for nine workers still missing, it said. The two injured were hospitalised in stable condition, it said.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion was under way, it said.