An explosion caused by careless handling of chemicals ripped through a pesticide factory in east China's Shandong Province Wednesday, raising pollution fears that resulted in authorities evacuating 8,000 residents from nearby villages.
The explosion occurred in the factory of Shandong Yanggu Zhongshi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. at 5:40 am.
One person broke his leg while six others suffered slight injuries in the blast, said Zhou Qing, head of the emergency response office of Yanggu County, Liaocheng City.
About 30 workers on the assembly line fled after smelling something unusual, Zhou said.
"I heard a huge 'bang' around 5 am and the windows broke. Then I saw the blaze at the plant," said a villager who lived nearby.
Fire from the blast ignited tanks of flammable chemicals in the factory and the flames have not yet been extinguished as of Wednesday night, according to officials.
A fire-fighter told Xinhua that he heard several minor explosions from the factory in the afternoon. The facilities on fire include a tank containing 200 tons of alcohol.
A couple of fire engines parked outside the factory compound as thick black smoke continued to rise.
Though air quality tests show no pollution, 8,000 residents in nine villages close to the factory were evacuated. More than 1,500 of them who could not return home on Wednesday night were given cash compensations - ranging from 20 to 60 yuan ($3.3 to $9.9) per person.
