Blast hits East China oil refinery

Dense smoke rises from the Jinlingshihua Nanjing Refinery in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Oct 9, 2016. [Photo/Weibo.com]

NANJING -- A production equipment in an oil refinery caught fire and exploded in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing Sunday afternoon, local fire department said.

The explosion occurred at 1:51 pm at the Jinlingshihua Nanjing Refinery in Qixia district.

Dense smoke rose from the plant after the blast, according to witnesses. No casualties have been reported so far. Fire fighters and fire engines have been dispatched to battle the flames.