13 dead after East China workshop blast

Rescuers remove debris at an explosion-hit workshop in Wenzhou city on Aug 5, 2012. Thirteen people died and 14 were injured after an explosion rocked a family-owned workshop in East China's Zhejiang province on Sunday afternoon. [Photo/Xinhua]

WENZHOU, Zhejiang - Thirteen people died and 14 have been injured after an explosion rocked a family-owned workshop in East China's Zhejiang province Sunday afternoon, local authorities said.

The accident happened in a village in Wenzhou city's Ouhai district about 4:50 pm and a fire raged in an area of 200 to 300 square meters after the explosion, rescuers said.

The rescue work has been concluded as of 11 pm. Among the injured who are receiving treatment in hospital, five are heavily injured and nine are slightly injured.

Government of Ouhai District said that the workshop was illegal and was focused on polishing and processing hardware locks.

The explosion happened after the thick dust in the workshop was ignited by the sparks from the polishing machine, government officials said.

A further investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.