Chinese state media on February 8 reported an explosion at the Jiapeng biotechnology plant in northern China, killing 8 people. The incident took place in Shanyin County, Shanxi Province, about 400km west of Beijing.
According to Xinhua, the explosion occurred on the morning of February 7 at the facility of Jiapeng Biotechnology Company. According to initial information, there were 7 deaths and 1 missing person. Later, authorities confirmed the death toll had increased to 8.
Xinhua said that the company's legal representative has been detained for investigation. Scene clearance is still underway. Reporters present at the area recorded dark yellow smoke still rising from the explosion site.
Local authorities have established an investigation team to clarify the cause of the incident. Functional agencies have not announced initial conclusions on the cause of the explosion at the factory.
Industrial accidents are recorded quite frequently in China, in the context that safety standards at some production facilities are said to be not strictly complied with. Previously, at the end of January, an explosion at a steel factory in Inner Mongolia, bordering Shanxi province, killed at least 9 people.
The incident in Shanxi continues to raise concerns about labor safety in the heavy industry and technology manufacturing sectors in China, as serious incidents continue to recur in a short time.
