At least ten people were killed and more than 100 injured in the explosion of a tanker truck on a highway in eastern China which caused the collapse of nearby buildings and factories, Chinese media announced on Saturday. State television CCTV reported ten dead and 117 injured who were taken to hospital.
The power of the explosion resulted in the collapse of homes and factories near the scene of the disaster, which occurred near the city of Wenling in east Zhejiang province, said the government on social media. A huge cloud of black smoke formed over the accident site while several cars were set on fire by the flames. Rescue workers were still striving Saturday evening to try to free victims trapped in the rubble, according to CCTV.
Videos published by the official media showed a huge fireball and people screaming. One of the videos shows large debris flying through the air before reaching nearby buildings. Another shows the remains of the tanker truck and several heavy goods vehicles embedded in a ruined building.
Many roads have been closed, police said. Road accidents are common in China. According to the latest available figures communicated by the authorities, 58,000 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2015. Road traffic violations are responsible for nearly 90% of fatal or injured accidents.
In 2019, at least 36 people were killed and 36 injured in eastern China when a crowded coach with a punctured tire collided with a truck.