China manufacturing plant explosion kills at least 12

July 28, 2010

The Associated Press is reporting that an explosion at a plastics manufacturing plant in the Chinese province of Jiangsu has killed at least 12 people and injured dozens of others.

The explosion was reportedly caused when workers at the plant ruptured a propylene pipe under the factory. The explosion was so strong that building and vehicles within 100 years of the explosion were badly damaged and some injuries were reported on a bus traveling near the blast site.

The Wall Street Journal reported the accident is typical of industrial manufacturing accidents in China, were worker safety policies are at best evolving as the country tries to ramp up its manufacturing infrastructure.