Death toll in chemical workshop explosion goes up to 12
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-04-24 20:31

The death toll in last Thursday 's chemical workshop explosion in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality went up to 12, with seven others still missing.

The blast occurred at 10:25 p.m. at an emulsification workshop of Dongxi Chemical Plant in Qijiang county. It destroyed a three- story factory building and left a cone-shaped ditch about two meters deep in the area.

Ten people were slightly injured in the accident, local hospital sources said.

Ten tons of hazardous chemicals have been removed from the factory's warehouse to ensure safety during the rescue operation, and rescuers are cleaning up the debris and explosives left at the site.

Dongxi Plant has raised 2.5 million yuan (300,000 US dollars) to finance medical costs of the injured workers and to compensate the victims' families. A local insurance company has paid 500,000 (60,000 US dollars) yuan in advance payment. Agreements have been reached regarding the compensation for the three victims whose bodies have been identified.

Cause of the explosion is under investigation.

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