Four die in China chemical plant blast

BEIJING - The toll in a blast at a chemical plant in northern China rose to four Sunday after rescuers found one more body at the site, Xinhua reported Sunday.

The blast occurred at 7.10 p.m. Saturday at Yushe Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. in Yushe county of Shanxi province, the emergency rescue headquarters said.

Thirty-seven injured workers were discharged from hospital Sunday. Rescuers have fought all night to put out the blaze that started after the blast.

“The provincial environment bureau has found no harmful substance in the air and the factory has not discharged any waste water after the blast,” said Wang Hongchang, publicity officer of the Yushe county committee, at a press conference Sunday. The cause of the blast is being investigated.

Yushe Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., which has 2,700 employees, produces PVC, sodium hydroxide and other chemicals.