Dust blast at workshop kills 19
BEIJING. February 26. KAZINFORM. Nineteen people are dead and 49 injured after an explosion in a starch factory in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, on Wednesday, the local government said yesterday; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
The massive dust blast ripped through a workshop at the Qianhuangdao Lihua Starch Co Ltd in Funing county, Qinhuangdao, leveling a major portion of the one-story building that covers nearly 6,200 square meters.
Police have detained the company's deputy general manager for work safety violations and the director of the workshop.
About 107 people were working when the explosion occurred at about 4 pm, authorities said.
Eighteen workers died at the scene and 50 others were injured. However, the death toll rose to 19 yesterday after one injured worker died.
The condition of the 49 injured workers is listed as stable. Among them, 15 were trapped in the debris but later rescued by firefighters, according to the local fire brigade. Up to 106 firemen were deployed to extinguish the flames.
An initial investigation indicated a dust explosion caused the tragedy, Fu Qiang, deputy director of the Funing county government told Xinhua News Agency.
Dust explosions are caused by the sudden ignition of a mixture of air and a heavy concentration of combustible dust particles; Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.