A week after blasts involving chemicals in the northern city of Tianjin had killed at least 116 people, another powerful explosion is being reported from China’s eastern province of Shandong.
A report by South China Morning Post quoting a villager said that Saturday’s blast took place near the city of Zibo
The eyewitness said that he saw a huge fireball before hearing two explosions adding that large flames could be seen from the site after the blast.
Another newspaper, The People’s Daily said that the blast had taken place at the Ruxung chemical plant, situated at just 1 km from a residential area.
Having chemical plant in close proximity of residential areas has become hugely controversial issue in China.
Xinhua news agency, meanwhile reports that the explosion has triggered a fire and a dozen fire engines were at the scene.
There are indications that these two blasts in Shandong and Tianjin have become politically controversial and may even threaten China’s celebrations of the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan in WWII.
Watch the video of the explosion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uacM3Lp8Al8