Factory blast kills 2, injures 26 in central China

[News_Editor]

Factory blast kills 2, injures 26 in central China

2012-03-28 11:06:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

WUHAN, CHINA (BNO NEWS) -- Two people were killed and dozens more were injured when an explosion tore through a bio-pharmaceutical factory in central China on Tuesday afternoon, local authorities told state-run media.

The explosion took place at around 1:30 p.m. local time at the Luyuan Biopharmaceutical Plant in Jiangxia District of Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubai. Photos from the scene showed the building was heavily damaged, with large parts of the roof collapsed.

A provincial fire department official told the state-run Xinhua news agency that excessive pressure at one of the factory's reaction kettles is believed to have caused the explosion. Part of the factory collapsed, the official said.

Two workers at the factory were killed in the explosion, and search-and-rescue teams ended their operations on late Tuesday as no other people were believed to be missing. A total of 26 people were injured, two of them who suffered severe injuries.

The rapid economic growth in China, in combination with poor safety measures, frequently result in deadly industrial accidents. In late February, thirteen people were killed and 43 others were injured when a large explosion ripped through a chemical plant in China's northern Hebei province.

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