Society

3 injured in pesticide factory explosion

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-25 19:58

NANNING - An explosion rocked a pesticide factory in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region Monday afternoon, injuring at least three workers.

The blast occurred at 3:30 pm in the Jinsui Pesticide Factory along Yongbin Road in the region's capital city of Nanning, said rescuers.

The three injured were sent to a hospital, doctors said.

Firefighters are still battling a resulting fire which has engulfed an area of 3,000 square meters and brought down two warehouses.

Insufficient water supplies and a narrow road leading to the plant complicated firefighting efforts as firefighters had to drain water from a nearby pond to douse the blaze.

Smoke is still billowing from the factory and there is a heavy chemical odor near the scene.

Police have evacuated the factory's workers and cordoned off the plant, which has large stores of chemicals.