6 people killed, hundreds injured in powerful explosion at plastics factory in eastern China

Chinese factory blast kills 6, injures hundreds

BEIJING — A powerful blast likely caused by a gas leak rocked a plastics factory in eastern China on Wednesday, killing at least six people and injuring hundreds more, state media reported.

The explosion happened about 10 a.m. in downtown Nanjing, the capital of’ Jiangsu province in eastern China, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Six people were reported killed, hundreds hurt, and buildings and vehicles within 100 yards (meters) of the massive explosion were badly damaged.

Officials who answered telephone calls at the Nanjing health department and city government would not comment. An official from the local Communist Propaganda Department said a statement would be released later.

Xinhua originally said 100 people had been taken to hospital, but later cited local media as saying more than 300 people were hospitalized and 50 were in serious condition.

An initial investigation showed the explosion was caused by a gas leak from a pipe in the plant, it said.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control four hours after the blast, Xinhua said. Passengers on a passing bus were also injured. Local residents were quoted as saying they thought there was an earthquake when the explosion happened.

Accidents are common in China’s safety-lax factories with fires, explosions and other problems killing thousands of people each year.

Hospitals evacuated rooms to make room for the injured, and blood had almost run out for transfusions, Xinhua said.