At least five people are dead and 19 more are injured after an explosion at a chemical plant rocked the eastern Shandong province in China on Tuesday.
The explosion, which broke windows as far as two miles away and sent massive plumes of smoke hundreds of feet into the air, occurred at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. in the city of Weifang, the Associated Press reported. The chemical plant manufactures pesticides, along with chemicals used in the medical industry.
An additional six people have been reported missing after the explosion. The plant employs over 500 people, according to the AP. It is the world’s largest producer of chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used to control pests in crops and homes, according to the South China Morning Post. In the first eight months of 2024, the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co. reportedly identified and rectified over 800 safety hazards.
Over 230 fire personnel…
