Death Toll From Chemical Plant Blast In East China Rises To 78 - Reports

A total of 78 people have been killed in a powerful explosion that flattened a chemical plant in Yancheng in East China's Jiangsu Province, while 566 others have been injured, local media reported on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th March, 2019) A total of 78 people have been killed in a powerful explosion that flattened a chemical plant in Yancheng in East China's Jiangsu Province, while 566 others have been injured, local media reported on Monday.

The official China Central Television (CCTV) said in a post on Weibo, citing statements from a press conference about the incident, that among those injured, 13 people were in critical condition and 66 others - in serious condition.

The devastating blast hit the chemical plant on Thursday afternoon, with shock waves shattering doors and windows in neighboring residential buildings and leaving an enormous hole on the ground at the site of the explosion.

CCTV said air quality in the affected areas met safety standards and is being monitored continuously.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has told Sputnik it had no data on whether there were foreign nationals among those affected by the blast.