At least nine people were killed after an explosion at a chemical plant in northeast China, local officials said Thursday, according to state media.
The official Xinhua news agency said an explosion and fire took place at about 10:10 pm (1410 GMT) Wednesday at a three-storey building at Fuxing Chemical Plant in Daqing city, Heilongjiang province.
Fourteen people were inside the building when the accident happened, local government officials said, according to the report.
Nine people died at the scene while the other five escaped.
The fire was extinguished but the cause of the explosion remains unknown with investigation and search efforts still under way.
China has a notoriously poor workplace safety record blamed on widespread disregard for basic safety measures as companies chase profits.
