Society

Furnace blast kills 2 in Xinjiang, 2 missing

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-02 14:18

URUMQI - Four people have been confirmed dead and two remained missing in a factory explosion Wednesday evening in Urumqi, the capital city of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, local authorities said Thursday.

Rescuer workers were still combing the debris for the two missing workers, the Urumqi city publicity department said in a press release.

A furnace exploded at 7:45 pm Wednesday at aluminium alloy production workshop of Xinjiang Yuansheng Technology Development Co. in Urumqi's High-tech Development Zone when more than 30 people were at work.

Body parts were found 50 meters away from the factory, according to reporters on the scene.

The blast also severely injured three workers and lightly injured another 13.

The explosion was not man-made, an initial investigation showed.