The death toll from a huge explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China rose to 12 on Friday after rescuers pulled dozens of people from the area, state media said.
The blaze "has been controlled" by firefighters hours after Thursday's blast left an industrial park burning into the night in Yancheng in Jiangsu province, according to broadcaster CCTV.
As of the early hours of Friday, a total of 88 people were "rescued" from the area, including 12 who died in the disaster, CCTV said.
City officials had previously said that at least six people were killed in the explosion, which left dozens injured in the latest incident to put a spotlight on China's chequered industrial safety record.
The explosion -- so powerful that it apparently triggered a small 2.2-magnitude earthquake -- knocked down factory buildings and shattered the windows of surrounding homes and a school, according to images seen on local media.
The death toll from a huge explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China rose to 12 on Friday after rescuers pulled dozens of people from the area, state media said.
The blaze “has been controlled” by firefighters hours after Thursday’s blast left an industrial park burning into the night in Yancheng in Jiangsu province, according to broadcaster CCTV.
As of the early hours of Friday, a total of 88 people were “rescued” from the area, including 12 who died in the disaster, CCTV said.
City officials had previously said that at least six people were killed in the explosion, which left dozens injured in the latest incident to put a spotlight on China’s chequered industrial safety record.
The explosion — so powerful that it apparently triggered a small 2.2-magnitude earthquake — knocked down factory buildings and shattered the windows of surrounding homes and a school, according to images seen on local media.
