Large blast hits chemical plant in China’s Shandong

Emergency services swung in to begin rescue and treatment efforts after the blast. (File/AFP)
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  • Posts on Chinese social media platform Weibo after the explosion showed shattered glass in nearby villages

HONG KONG: A large explosion took place at a chemical plant in China’s eastern province of Shandong on Tuesday, state media said, but gave no immediate details of casualties, while unverified social media images showed smoke billowing high over the plant.
Emergency services swung in to begin rescue and treatment efforts after the blast, just before noon in the workshop of Shandong Youdao Chemical, broadcaster CCTV said, but gave no further details.
Posts on Chinese social media platform Weibo after the explosion showed shattered glass in nearby villages, with residents saying they had felt its vibrations.
Shandong Youdao Chemical is owned by Himile Group, which also owns listed Himile Mechanical, shares of which were down nearly 4 percent on Tuesday afternoon.
Youdao was set up in August 2019 in the Gaomi Renhe chemical park in the provincial city of Weifang, its website says, sprawling across more than 700 acres (47 hectares), with more than 300 employees.
It develops, produces and sells technology for pesticides, pharmaceuticals and related fine chemical intermediates.