China factory explosion in Jiangsu 'kills at least 68'

BBC News | August 2, 2014

An explosion at a factory in eastern China has killed at least 68 people, according to Chinese state media.

Almost 200 people were injured in the blast in Kunshan, a city in the eastern province of Jiangsu, China's official Xinhua news agency said.

Pictures posted online showed people with burns sitting on the ground outside a factory complex from which black smoke was billowing.

Xinhua said five company employees had been detained.

The factory belonged to the Kunshan Zhongrong Metal Products company.

The company manufactures car parts and employs about 450 workers. Its clients include US giant General Motors, CCTV reported.

State media reports say that explosion took place inside a wheel hub polishing workshop and that 264 workers were at the site at the time of the explosion.

Xinhua said 44 people had died immediately and the total of injured stood at 187.

Initial reports suggested the explosion, which was heard several kilometres away, occurred when a flame was lit in a dust-filled room.

Glass was shattered up to 500 metres away.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-28619248