Vehicle carrying ammonium nitrate explodes, leaving 2 dead and 4 injured

Two people were killed and four others injured on Sunday when a vehicle carrying ammonium nitrate, a chemical used as a fertilizer and in explosives, exploded after colliding with another vehicle on National Highway 331 in East Ujimqin Banner, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The explosion, which occurred at 11:27 am, left two people dead and injured one at the scene, while the shockwave damaged nearby vehicles on the road, causing injuries to three more people, Xinhua News Agency reported.

All four injured have been transferred to local hospitals for treatment.

Public security and traffic police have been dispatched to the scene to carry out an initial investigation. A special task force has been set up to conduct a thorough probe and coordinate all follow-up procedures.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.