ALBAWABA- A powerful explosion ripped through a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong province on Tuesday, killing at least five people, injuring 19 others, and leaving six more unaccounted for, according to local emergency officials.
The blast occurred shortly after noon at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. facility in Weifang. Thick plumes of black smoke filled the air, triggering tremors that shattered windows up to three kilometers (nearly two miles) away.
Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed the sheer force of the explosion, with one resident reporting that his home, located over four miles from the site, shook violently.
Emergency crews swiftly deployed over 230 personnel to contain the blaze and search for the missing.
The plant, located in an industrial zone, produces pesticides and medical-use chemicals and employs more than 500 workers.
