An explosion and fire near a large chemical plant in northern China on Wednesday left at least 22 people dead and 22 others injured, officials said. The incident near Hebei Shenghua Chemical Co. in Zhangjiakou, a city some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northwest of Beijing, also burned 50 large and small trucks.
The injured were taken to hospital for treatment following the blast, which occurred at 00:41 am. The charred and smoking remains of trucks and cars were scattered on a road as firefighters worked at the scene. “On-site search and rescue work and investigation of the cause of the accident are still underway,” the officials said.