BEIJING (AP) – A factory explosion in a port city south of Shanghai yesterday killed two people and injured at least 30 others as it knocked down buildings and left streets littered with damaged cars and debris, news reports said.
The explosion struck a factory in a riverfront neighborhood in Ningbo, one of China’s busiest ports, the official Xinhua News Agency and other outlets reported. A police statement said the cause of the 8:55 a.m. blast was under investigation.
Two people were killed, news reports said, citing a city government statement. They gave no details.
At least 30 others were taken to hospitals, according to Huanqiu.com, a website operated by the newspaper Global Times. It also gave no details of their injuries.
China suffers frequent deadly fires and industrial accidents, often blamed on negligence.
Official safety crackdowns have improved conditions in some areas but many companies still cut corners. In 2015, an explosion traced to improperly stored chemicals killed at least 173 people in Tianjin, a port east of Beijing.
Yesterday’s blast knocked down residential buildings but those were vacant and in the process of being demolished, Huanqiu.com said.
