A factory explosion on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 7, in the northeast province of Hebei killed six people and injured another seven, two of them seriously. Local authorities said the explosion took place in the tail gas burner of the gas-making workshop. The authorities mobilized a special investigative team to ensure that no flammable or toxic gas leaks occurred because of the explosion.
Hebei Jinwantai Chemical Fertilizer is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JinMei Jinhua Chemical Investments. The plant produces ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate, and compound fertilizers, mostly for the local market. The local government ordered the plant closed until an investigation into the cause of the explosion is concluded.