China: Blast kills 22 near chemical plant in Zhangjiakou

An explosion near a chemical factory left 22 people dead and 22 others injured in northern China on Wednesday, according to news agency ANI. The incident near Hebei Shenghua Chemical Co. in Zhangjiakou, a city some 200 kilometre (124 miles) northwest of Beijing, also burned 50 large and small trucks, according to reports.

Blast kills at least 22 near north China chemical plant, reports AFP quoting official

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018

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Blast kills at least 22 near north China chemical plant, reports AFP quoting official

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018

#BREAKING 22 killed, 22 others wounded in an explosion near a chemical factory in Zhangjiakou City, N China's Hebei Province; injured hospitalized, probe underway pic.twitter.com/6dQrn11qFW

— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) November 28, 2018

#UPDATE A total of 50 cars involved in the accident; the fire has been contained, search operation underway, according to initial investigation. pic.twitter.com/5RZzrnHruZ

— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) November 28, 2018

The charred and smoking remains of trucks and cars were scattered on a road as firefighters worked at the scene, according to photos posted on Twitter by state broadcaster CGTN.

The injured were taken to the hospital for treatment following the blast. On-site search and rescue work and investigation of the cause of the accident are still underway.