75 dead after dust explosion rips through East China factory
| Latest News |
Death toll of factory blast in E. China rises to 75
The death toll from a factory blast in East China's Jiangsu Province rose to 75 on Monday as a senior official in charge of the country's work safety said "very serious dereliction of duty" was behind the accident.
Factory blast in East China kills at least 69
A huge explosion at a factory in the city of Kunshan, in East China’s Jiangsu Province has killed at least 69 people and injured 187 others.
Xi demands all-out efforts to treat blast survivors
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out efforts to treat the injured and comfort the families of the dead after a factory blast on Saturday.
| Explosion Details |
| Time and location |
| 7:37 am, August 2, 2014/Kunshan, Jiangsu Province |
| Cause |
| ●The explosion was officially deemed a work-related accident. |
| ●The blast was likely caused by flames igniting dust inside the workshop. |
| Casualties |
| ●75 people dead, more than 180 injured (264 at the site when the explosion occurred) |
| ●44 died at the scene, 31 died in hospital. At least 137 wounded have been transferred to hospitals in nearby cities of Suzhou, Shanghai, Wuxi and Nantong. |
| ●An employee at the Kunshan Hospital said most of those injured suffered from severe burns and respiratory issues. |
| ●“The mortality rate among those injured may become high in the near future,” said Zhang Qin, director from Shanghai Ruijin Hospital. |
| Official reactions |
| ●President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out efforts to treat the injured and comfort the families of the dead after the factory blast. |
| ●Premier Li Keqiang has ordered safety checks to avoid similar tragedies from happening again. |
| ●State councilor Wang Yong led a State Council work team to Kunshan to investigate the accident. |
| ●The Supreme People's Procuratorate sent officials to the scene to probe into possible crimes of dereliction of duty. |
| About Zhongrong |
| ●Five company heads responsible for factory operations have been detained by police. |
| ●Established in 1998, the Taiwanese-invested Zhongrong Metal Products Company has 450 employees and specializes in aluminum processing. |
| ●Safety rules were poorly enforced, according to a worker at the company. "Checks are usual, but after the checks, no one's really following any safety rules," a worker told Xinhua. |
| ●Some employees from the company said a fire once broke out in a factory duster two months ago. |
| ●Local residents told reporters from the Beijing Times that the company has serious pollution and work safety issues. |
| Photos |
Rescuers work at the site of the factory blast in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 2, 2014. At least 65 people died and more than 150 others were injured after a powerful blast ripped through a factory in Kunshan City on Saturday morning. (Xinhua)
A victim receives treatment at the site of the factory blast in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province, in this photo taken with cellphone on Aug. 2, 2014. At least 65 people died and more than 150 others were injured after a powerful blast ripped through a factory in Kunshan City on Saturday morning. (Xinhua)
Rescuers work at the site of the factory blast in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province, in this photo taken with cellphone on Aug. 2, 2014. At least 65 people died and more than 150 others were injured after a powerful blast ripped through a factory in Kunshan City on Saturday morning. (Xinhua)
Photo taken with mobile phone on Aug. 2, 2014 shows the factory blast site in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province. At least 65 people died and more than 150 others were injured after a powerful blast ripped through a factory in Kunshan City on Saturday morning. (Xinhua)
Photo taken with mobile phone on Aug. 2, 2014 shows the factory blast site in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu Province. At least 65 people died and more than 150 others were injured after a powerful blast ripped through a factory in Kunshan City on Saturday morning. (Xinhua)
People stand in silent tribute for the victims of a factory blast before a press conderence in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu province, August 2, 2014. Photo: Xinhua
A press conference on a factory blast is held in Kunshan City, east China's Jiangsu province, August 2, 2014. Photo: Xinhua
Residents queue to donate blood at Nantong Central Blood Station in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, August 2, 2014. Photo: Xinhua
Workers of Nantong COSCO Shipyard Company donate blood on a voluntary blood donation vehicle in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, August 2, 2014. Photo: Xinhua
An injured victim arrives in the Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University to receive medical treatment in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, August 2, 2014. Photo: Xinhua
An injured victim is transferred to the Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University to receive medical treatment in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, August 2, 2014. Photo: Xinhua
Doctors at Kunshan Hospital wait for those injured in the blast to arrive outside the hospital. Photo: Yang Hui/GT
| About Dust Explosion |
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