Top Party and government officials of Fujian province visited a chemical plant in Zhangzhou, where an explosion broke out two days ago, on Wednesday morning.

Fujian Party chief You Quan (2nd, R), and Governor Su Shulin (R) hear a report on an explosion at a chemical plant in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, April 8. [Photo/Fujian Daily]

The blast occurred at Tenglong Aromatic Hydrocarbon (Zhangzhou) Co. Ltd. on the Gulei Peninsula on Monday evening, when an oil leak at a xylene facility caught fire, setting off explosions in three nearby oil tanks, according to investigation.

The fire rekindled on Tuesday around 7:40 pm, hours after it was thought to be extinguished. Experts suggested it was a spontaneous ignition by materials in another tank.

Local media reported that the fire was under control as of 11:40 pm.

The accident has grabbed attention from Chinese authorities, as Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli have both ordered all-out efforts to rescue and treat the wounded, put out the fire, determine the cause of the accident and hold related personnel accountable.

Nearly 200 fire engines and some 900 firefighters were deployed to the site to deal with the rekindled fire on Tuesday night.

The provincial ocean and fishery bureau said the nine temporary monitoring sites at waters off the plant detected no contamination so far.

The provincial maritime affairs bureau has dispatched eight skimming ships near the site in case of emergency.