Chemical plant blast in China’s Shandong leaves 30 injured

A powerful explosion at a chemical plant in the city of Gaomi, located in China's eastern Shandong province, has injured 30 people.

The explosion ripped through a chemical plant in Shandong province on May 27, producing a towering fireball and sending dense plumes of smoke hundreds of feet into the air, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The blast occurred just before noon at a facility operated by Shandong Youdao Chemical in the city of Gaomi. While rescue efforts were ongoing as of May 27 afternoon, the number of casualties remains unconfirmed. Residents reported hearing a loud explosion that shattered windows in many homes and caused widespread panic.

One local resident said that his house had been “shaken” by the blast. He recounted being inside at the time, saying the force of the explosion shattered his windows and hurled objects across his home. He also described scenes of destruction outside, with streets strewn with broken glass and household appliances blown out of buildings. In response to the incident, local fire and rescue teams deployed 55 vehicles and 232 personnel to the scene. 

The national Ministry of Emergency Management also sent specialized fire and workplace emergency units to assist in the operation. Shandong Youdao Chemical, established in 2019, employs over 300 workers and produces pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and various chemical products. According to publicly available information, the company is the world’s top producer of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, manufacturing around 11,000 tons annually.

By Naila Huseynova