Police have detained six more suspects linked to a <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/six-dead-30-injured-in-china-chemical-plant-blast-official-204681&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjBz_6Ug8_hAhVIi3AKHfv2DP0QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0AXJlU7FMtj4UpbJFCVJeb">chemical plant blast</a> in eastern China last month which killed 78 and left hundreds injured, local authorities said.

The explosion in Jiangsu province's Yancheng city last month was one of the worst industrial accidents in the country in recent years and led to the closure of the plant.

Six employees from the Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical company, whose plant was involved in the blast, have "major responsibilities" in relation to the incident, the Yancheng government said Saturday in a brief statement on its official Twitter-like Weibo account.

It said that "criminal coercive measures" have been taken against them -- a vague term which indicates detention, arrest or being put under temporary house arrest until police complete investigations, according to an explanation on the Chinese parliament's website.

Three others had also earlier been detained in connection with the blast. The statement added that measures will also be taken against Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical, as well as its controlling shareholder, the Jiangsu Nijiaxiang Group.

The March 21 explosion razed an industrial park and blew out the windows of surrounding homes.

The company, with 195 employees, was established in 2007 and mainly produces raw chemical materials including anisole, a highly flammable compound.

It has a history of violating environmental regulations, according to online records from Yancheng city's environment and ecology bureau.

In 2015 and 2017, the firm was fined for breaking rules on solid and water waste management. Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced.

In November, a gas leak at a plant in the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou -- which will host the 2022 Winter Olympics -- killed 24 people and injured 21 others.

In 2015, China saw one of its worst industrial accidents when giant chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people.

Police have detained six more suspects linked to a chemical plant blast in eastern China last month which killed 78 and left hundreds injured, local authorities said.

Police have detained six more suspects linked to a chemical plant blast in eastern China last month which killed 78 and left hundreds injured, local authorities said. The explosion in Jiangsu province's Yancheng city last month was one of the worst industrial accidents in the country in recent years and led to the closure of the plant. Six employees from the Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical company, whose plant was involved in the blast, have "major responsibilities" in relation to the incident, the Yancheng government said Saturday in a brief statement on its official Twitter-like Weibo account. It said that "criminal coercive measures" have been taken against them -- a vague term which indicates detention, arrest or being put under temporary house arrest until police complete investigations, according to an explanation on the Chinese parliament's website. Three others had also earlier been detained in connection with the blast. The statement added that measures will also be taken against Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical, as well as its controlling shareholder, the Jiangsu Nijiaxiang Group. The March 21 explosion razed an industrial park and blew out the windows of surrounding homes. The company, with 195 employees, was established in 2007 and mainly produces raw chemical materials including anisole, a highly flammable compound. It has a history of violating environmental regulations, according to online records from Yancheng city's environment and ecology bureau. In 2015 and 2017, the firm was fined for breaking rules on solid and water waste management. Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced. In November, a gas leak at a plant in the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou -- which will host the 2022 Winter Olympics -- killed 24 people and injured 21 others. In 2015, China saw one of its worst industrial accidents when giant chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people.

Six more suspects linked to China chemical plant blast held

The death toll in a chemical plant explosion in China rose to 64 Saturday but rescuers found a survivor among more than two dozen still missing in the debris of one of the country's worst industrial accidents in recent years.

Thursday's explosion in the eastern city of Yancheng injured hundreds and flattened an industrial park.&nbsp;

The local fire brigade pulled a man in his 40s from the rubble of the destroyed chemical plant around dawn on Saturday, according to a statement on the city government's official Weibo account.

He was taken to hospital for treatment, the statement said, without giving further detail of his status or injuries.

Rescuers are looking for 28 people who are still missing, Yancheng mayor Cao Lubao said in the statement.

"The identities of the dead and the missing are being confirmed through interviews with family members, home visits and DNA tests," Cao said.&nbsp;

More than 600 people have received medical treatment following the blast, according to the city government.

Among them, 21 are critically injured and 73 are seriously injured, the statement said.

The explosion toppled several buildings in the industrial park and caused a huge fire that raged through the night, while rescuers scrambled to find survivors in the plant's wreckage.

Hundreds of rescuers were dispatched to the scene, local authorities said, and some 4,000 people have been evacuated from the blast site.

The force of the explosion -- which was so powerful that it apparently triggered a small earthquake -- blew out windows and dented metal garage doors of buildings as far as four kilometres from the site.&nbsp;

Nearby residents -- many of them elderly -- were seen sweeping up glass, and in some cases appeared to have abandoned their homes entirely.&nbsp;

The city government said some 89 houses were damaged beyond repair and families were resettled after demolishing those structures.

The government said it was also repairing blown-in doors and windows in 10 school buildings near the site so that all schools in the area can resume classes Monday.

Local authorities investigating the cause of the accident said an unspecified number of people were taken into police custody on Friday.

The facility involved in the explosion belonged to Tianjiayi Chemical, a firm with 195 employees established in 2007 that mainly produces raw chemical materials including anisole, a highly flammable compound.

Tianjiayi Chemical has a history of violating environmental regulations, according to online records from Yancheng city's environment and ecology bureau.

In 2015 and 2017, the firm was fined for violating rules on solid and water waste management.

Toxic water

Several residents told AFP they were concerned about pollution from the industrial accident.

"We don't have drinkable water here," one 60-year-old woman surnamed Xiang said. "Why hasn't the government sent us some water?"

According to a report released Friday by Jiangsu province's ecology and environment department, several rivers near the blast site are contaminated with chemicals, including chloroform and dichloromethane.

But the city government said Saturday that "continuous environmental monitoring data show that pollution indicators are within the normal range, and the drinking water... is not affected."

Authorities said they had also dammed a tributary to the nearby Xinfeng River to prevent any "outflow of sewage from the chemical industrial park." &nbsp;

An aerial view of the blast area showed a large swathe of destruction in the industrial park, where multiple fires had raged.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze Friday after battling raging flames through the night. Three chemical tanks and five other areas had been on fire.

Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced.

In November, a gas leak at a plant in the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou, which will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, killed 24 people and injured 21 others.

In 2015, China saw one of its worst industrial accidents when giant chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people.

The death toll in a chemical plant explosion in China rose to 64 Saturday but rescuers found a survivor among more than two dozen still missing in the debris of one of the country's worst industrial accidents in recent years.

The death toll in a chemical plant explosion in China rose to 64 Saturday but rescuers found a survivor among more than two dozen still missing in the debris of one of the country's worst industrial accidents in recent years. Thursday's explosion in the eastern city of Yancheng injured hundreds and flattened an industrial park. The local fire brigade pulled a man in his 40s from the rubble of the destroyed chemical plant around dawn on Saturday, according to a statement on the city government's official Weibo account. He was taken to hospital for treatment, the statement said, without giving further detail of his status or injuries. Rescuers are looking for 28 people who are still missing, Yancheng mayor Cao Lubao said in the statement. "The identities of the dead and the missing are being confirmed through interviews with family members, home visits and DNA tests," Cao said. More than 600 people have received medical treatment following the blast, according to the city government. Among them, 21 are critically injured and 73 are seriously injured, the statement said. The explosion toppled several buildings in the industrial park and caused a huge fire that raged through the night, while rescuers scrambled to find survivors in the plant's wreckage. Hundreds of rescuers were dispatched to the scene, local authorities said, and some 4,000 people have been evacuated from the blast site. The force of the explosion -- which was so powerful that it apparently triggered a small earthquake -- blew out windows and dented metal garage doors of buildings as far as four kilometres from the site. Nearby residents -- many of them elderly -- were seen sweeping up glass, and in some cases appeared to have abandoned their homes entirely. The city government said some 89 houses were damaged beyond repair and families were resettled after demolishing those structures. The government said it was also repairing blown-in doors and windows in 10 school buildings near the site so that all schools in the area can resume classes Monday. Local authorities investigating the cause of the accident said an unspecified number of people were taken into police custody on Friday. The facility involved in the explosion belonged to Tianjiayi Chemical, a firm with 195 employees established in 2007 that mainly produces raw chemical materials including anisole, a highly flammable compound. Tianjiayi Chemical has a history of violating environmental regulations, according to online records from Yancheng city's environment and ecology bureau. In 2015 and 2017, the firm was fined for violating rules on solid and water waste management. Toxic water Several residents told AFP they were concerned about pollution from the industrial accident. "We don't have drinkable water here," one 60-year-old woman surnamed Xiang said. "Why hasn't the government sent us some water?" According to a report released Friday by Jiangsu province's ecology and environment department, several rivers near the blast site are contaminated with chemicals, including chloroform and dichloromethane. But the city government said Saturday that "continuous environmental monitoring data show that pollution indicators are within the normal range, and the drinking water... is not affected." Authorities said they had also dammed a tributary to the nearby Xinfeng River to prevent any "outflow of sewage from the chemical industrial park." An aerial view of the blast area showed a large swathe of destruction in the industrial park, where multiple fires had raged. Firefighters extinguished the blaze Friday after battling raging flames through the night. Three chemical tanks and five other areas had been on fire. Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced. In November, a gas leak at a plant in the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou, which will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, killed 24 people and injured 21 others. In 2015, China saw one of its worst industrial accidents when giant chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people.

China factory blast death toll jumps to 64, man rescued after 40 hours

The death toll from a huge explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China surged to 47 on Friday, making it one of the country's worst industrial accidents in recent years.

More than 600 people are receiving medical treatment following Thursday afternoon's blast at the industrial park in Yancheng, said the city government on its official Twitter-like Weibo account.

Among them, at least 90 are seriously injured. City officials had previously said that at least 12 people were killed and 30 injured in the explosion in Jiangsu province.

The explosion was so powerful that it apparently triggered a small earthquake, knocked down several factory buildings and shattered the windows of homes a few kilometres away.

"We knew we'd be blown up one day," said one 60-year-old woman surnamed Xiang.&nbsp;

She said she had harboured concerns about safety and pollution at the site for a long time.&nbsp;

Hundreds of rescuers have been dispatched to the scene, local authorities said, and more than 3,000 people have been evacuated from the blast site.

The blaze from the explosion has been extinguished, said local officials Friday, after firefighters battled raging flames through the night. Three chemical tanks and five other areas had been on fire.

Authorities, who are investigating the cause of the accident, said an unspecified number of people were taken into police custody.

The chemical facility involved in the explosion belonged to Tianjiayi Chemical, a firm with 195 employees established in 2007.

According to local officials, the Jiangsu-based company mainly produced raw chemical materials, including anisole, a highly flammable compound.

Abandoned homes&nbsp;

The force of the explosion blew out windows and dented metal garage doors of buildings as far as four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the site, said AFP reporters at the scene.&nbsp;

Nearby residents -- many of them elderly -- have started sweeping up glass, and in some cases, seemed to have abandoned their homes entirely. Black smoke could still be seen rising from the chemical plant on Friday morning before dissipating.

On the road where Xiang lived, consisting of basic two-storey homes, almost all the windows and some window frames were blown in.

The woman was sitting at home when the explosion occurred and said the force rocked her house and badly damaged her front door.&nbsp;

There was no immediate government help, she said, and residents were clearing the street themselves.&nbsp;

Workers trapped&nbsp;

Images broadcast on local media showed how the blast toppled factory buildings, trapping workers inside. State broadcaster CCTV showed rescuers pulling a survivor from the wreckage.

Workers covered in blood were seen running out of the factory, said official news agency Xinhua on Thursday, citing witnesses.

An aerial view of the blast area showed a large swath of destruction in the industrial park, where multiple fires had initially raged.

Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced.

In November, a gas leak at a plant in the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou that will host the 2022 Winter Olympics killed 24 people and injured 21 others.

A report published by local authorities last month revealed that the Chinese chemical firm responsible for the accident had concealed information and misled investigators.

In 2015, China saw one of its worst industrial accidents when giant chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people.

The explosions caused more than $1 billion in damage and sparked widespread anger at a perceived lack of transparency over the accident's causes and its environmental impact.

The death toll from a huge explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China surged to 47 on Friday, making it one of the country's worst industrial accidents in recent years.

The death toll from a huge explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China surged to 47 on Friday, making it one of the country's worst industrial accidents in recent years. More than 600 people are receiving medical treatment following Thursday afternoon's blast at the industrial park in Yancheng, said the city government on its official Twitter-like Weibo account. Among them, at least 90 are seriously injured. City officials had previously said that at least 12 people were killed and 30 injured in the explosion in Jiangsu province. The explosion was so powerful that it apparently triggered a small earthquake, knocked down several factory buildings and shattered the windows of homes a few kilometres away. "We knew we'd be blown up one day," said one 60-year-old woman surnamed Xiang. She said she had harboured concerns about safety and pollution at the site for a long time. Hundreds of rescuers have been dispatched to the scene, local authorities said, and more than 3,000 people have been evacuated from the blast site. The blaze from the explosion has been extinguished, said local officials Friday, after firefighters battled raging flames through the night. Three chemical tanks and five other areas had been on fire. Authorities, who are investigating the cause of the accident, said an unspecified number of people were taken into police custody. The chemical facility involved in the explosion belonged to Tianjiayi Chemical, a firm with 195 employees established in 2007. According to local officials, the Jiangsu-based company mainly produced raw chemical materials, including anisole, a highly flammable compound. Abandoned homes The force of the explosion blew out windows and dented metal garage doors of buildings as far as four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the site, said AFP reporters at the scene. Nearby residents -- many of them elderly -- have started sweeping up glass, and in some cases, seemed to have abandoned their homes entirely. Black smoke could still be seen rising from the chemical plant on Friday morning before dissipating. On the road where Xiang lived, consisting of basic two-storey homes, almost all the windows and some window frames were blown in. The woman was sitting at home when the explosion occurred and said the force rocked her house and badly damaged her front door. There was no immediate government help, she said, and residents were clearing the street themselves. Workers trapped Images broadcast on local media showed how the blast toppled factory buildings, trapping workers inside. State broadcaster CCTV showed rescuers pulling a survivor from the wreckage. Workers covered in blood were seen running out of the factory, said official news agency Xinhua on Thursday, citing witnesses. An aerial view of the blast area showed a large swath of destruction in the industrial park, where multiple fires had initially raged. Deadly industrial accidents are common in China, where safety regulations are often poorly enforced. In November, a gas leak at a plant in the northern Chinese city of Zhangjiakou that will host the 2022 Winter Olympics killed 24 people and injured 21 others. A report published by local authorities last month revealed that the Chinese chemical firm responsible for the accident had concealed information and misled investigators. In 2015, China saw one of its worst industrial accidents when giant chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at least 165 people. The explosions caused more than $1 billion in damage and sparked widespread anger at a perceived lack of transparency over the accident's causes and its environmental impact.

Death toll from east China factory blast jumps to 47, over 600 injured

Emergency personnel mounted rescue efforts amid scenes of carnage Friday as the toll from hurricane-force winds and a tornado in China rose to at least 98 dead, with hundreds more injured. 
 
Whole villages were levelled and huge trees felled when winds of up to 125 kilometres per hour struck around Yancheng city, the official Xinhua news agency said. 
 
So far 98 people have been confirmed dead and about 800 injured, it cited local authorities as saying. 
 
President Xi Jinping ordered &quot;all-out rescue efforts&quot; after what Xinhua said was one of the worst disasters ever to hit Jiangsu, including the worst tornado to hit China in half a century. 
 
Sun Yazhou, a resident of Funing county, one of the hardest-hit areas, was driving a concrete mixer truck when a tornado passed him, tearing the glass out of his vehicle windows. 
 
&quot;The sky was completely dark. I was scared, but I had nowhere to run. I had to wait it out,&quot; he told AFP. 
 
At a Funing county hospital, a factory worker with head and arm injuries and on an intravenous drip told AFP he had been swept out of his workplace by the tornado, despite clinging to a door as he tried to hold it shut against the storm. 
 
&quot;It all happened so fast. I have never seen anything like this before in my life,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;I thought for sure I was going to die,&quot; he added. &quot;I can&#39;t believe I am still alive.&quot; 
 
The factory -- which employed around 1,000 workers -- and its dormitory were destroyed. 
 
&quot;I have nothing now. My money, my things, all gone. It was so scary,&quot; he said. 
 
In the town of Lixin, cars and houses were destroyed and trees uprooted. Bulldozers dug up rubble while rescue workers dug through debris for survivors. 
 
Flooding is common during the summer monsoon season in the south of China, but rainfall has been particularly heavy this year. 
 
Many parts of China have been lashed by torrential rains this week as summer rainstorms have been heavier than usual, causing damage across the country.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

Whole villages were levelled and huge trees felled when winds of up to 125 kilometres per hour struck around Yancheng city

Emergency personnel mounted rescue efforts amid scenes of carnage Friday as the toll from hurricane-force winds and a tornado in China rose to at least 98 dead, with hundreds more injured. Whole villages were levelled and huge trees felled when winds of up to 125 kilometres per hour struck around Yancheng city, the official Xinhua news agency said. So far 98 people have been confirmed dead and about 800 injured, it cited local authorities as saying. President Xi Jinping ordered "all-out rescue efforts" after what Xinhua said was one of the worst disasters ever to hit Jiangsu, including the worst tornado to hit China in half a century. Sun Yazhou, a resident of Funing county, one of the hardest-hit areas, was driving a concrete mixer truck when a tornado passed him, tearing the glass out of his vehicle windows. "The sky was completely dark. I was scared, but I had nowhere to run. I had to wait it out," he told AFP. At a Funing county hospital, a factory worker with head and arm injuries and on an intravenous drip told AFP he had been swept out of his workplace by the tornado, despite clinging to a door as he tried to hold it shut against the storm. "It all happened so fast. I have never seen anything like this before in my life," he said. "I thought for sure I was going to die," he added. "I can't believe I am still alive." The factory -- which employed around 1,000 workers -- and its dormitory were destroyed. "I have nothing now. My money, my things, all gone. It was so scary," he said. In the town of Lixin, cars and houses were destroyed and trees uprooted. Bulldozers dug up rubble while rescue workers dug through debris for survivors. Flooding is common during the summer monsoon season in the south of China, but rainfall has been particularly heavy this year. Many parts of China have been lashed by torrential rains this week as summer rainstorms have been heavier than usual, causing damage across the country. (AFP)

98 dead, 800 injured after tornado hits China

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Six more suspects linked to China chemical plant blast held

China factory blast death toll jumps to 64, man rescued after 40 hours

Death toll from east China factory blast jumps to 47, over 600 injured

98 dead, 800 injured after tornado hits China