At least five are dead and six are missing Tuesday following a massive explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China.
Videos captured in the wake of the blast at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. facility in Weifang showed huge columns of smoke rising into the sky.
The blast was powerful enough to knock out windows at a warehouse more than two miles away, according to the Associated Press.
According to a student at a school located approximately 1,000 yards away from the plant, he reported hearing one explosion and witnessing dirt-yellow smoke, which had a reddish tint, billowing from the plant. The student mentioned a strange odor, prompting officials to distribute masks to all students with instructions not to take them off.
At least 5 people reportedly are dead following the chemical plant explosion on Tuesday, May 27, in Weifang. (Reuters/TPX Images of the Day)
Despite being flagged for “safety risks” twice the previous year, the chemical plant received recognition from the Weifang Emergency Management Bureau in September for successfully addressing those concerns.
Reportedly, plant authorities identified and addressed over 800 safety issues within the first eight months of 2024, as disclosed by the AP.
A warehouse complex storing large amounts of hazardous chemicals caught fire and exploded in Tianjin in 2015, leaving 173 dead or missing.
An explosion at a chemical plant in China’s eastern Shandong province has left at least six missing, officials said. (AP)
In 2019, 78 people were killed in a blast at a chemical plant in Yancheng in China’s eastern coastal province of Jiangsu.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
