New drama in China.
Eight people were killed in an explosion at a metal products factory in east China's Jiangsu Province on Saturday.
The explosion occurred at 3:38 a.m. local time (8 p.m. in Paris Friday) in a factory located in the city of Changzhou, 180 km northwest of Shanghai, according to the official Xinhua agency.
“
A dust explosion occurred in the production workshop of Shenrong Metal Technology Limited, killing eight people and lightly injuring eight others
,” said Xinhua, while an investigation into the explosion was launched.
This type of explosion occurs when flammable particles, including metal, catch fire in the air.
Fatal industrial accidents are common in China where safety rules are often poorly respected.
In May 2023, nine people died in an explosion at a hydrogen peroxide production plant in Liaocheng, east China's Shandong Province.
In November 2022, 38 people died in a factory in Henan, in central China, with authorities accusing employees of improper handling during an electrical welding operation.