Beijing:At least five people were killed, 55 injured and 14 others were missing after a major explosion ripped through a chemical plant in South China, leading to a blaze, today.

The fire is yet to be extinguished but remained under control, chief of the region s fire-fighters squad Ma Dewen said.

He said about 11,500 people, living within three km of the plant, owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co, were evacuated as a precautionary measure after the explosion in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

It was not immediately clear how many people were in the plant at the time of the initial blast at about 6 a.m. The cause of the blast was yet to be ascertained.

Environment experts rushed to the area along the Longjiang River, which abuts the plant, to monitor the water quality in case of poisoning, Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 100 anti-chemical warfare professionals were dispatched to the site to check if there were any explosive chemicals left in the plant.

The explosions persisted until almost 1 p.m. And the fire spread over 10,000 sq m, said a fire-fighter.

Investigation into the accident was on.

The plant mainly produces polyvinyl acetate (PVA, used in adhesives), calcium carbide and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM, used in paints, adhesives and coatings).

The plant is in a development zone of Yizhou City, a four-hour drive from Nanning, the regional capital.
Source : PTI