Explosion and fire at chemical factory in India kills at least nine

National Disaster Response Force rescuers carry the body of a person after an explosion and fire at a chemical factory in Dombivali near Mumbai, India (Rajanish Kakade/AP)

An explosion and fire at a chemical factory in western India has killed at least nine people and injured 64, officials said on Friday.

The explosion on Thursday in the factory’s boiler led to a fire that affected nearby factories and houses in Maharashtra state’s Thane district, administrative official Sachin Shejal said.