1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Death toll surges in China chemical plant fire

March 22, 2019

State media has reported 44 deaths in an industrial accident at a pesticide plant in the province of Jiangsu. Over the past decade, deadly industrial accidents have triggered widespread anger over lax safety standards.

https://p.dw.com/p/3FT0S
Explosion at Chinese chemical plant in Jiangsu
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

At least 44 people have been killed in a chemical plant explosion in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, the local government said on Friday.

Public anger has grown in China following several deadly industrial accidents ranging from chemical plant blasts to mining disasters over the past decade.

Devastating incident:

  • More than 600 people were injured, including 32 in critical condition
  • The explosion triggered a 2.2 magnitude earthquake
  • Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.
  • Firefighters have brought the blaze under control.

Read more: Opinion: Xi Jinping is taking China down a dangerous path

A blaze rages at a chemical plant in China's Jiangsu province
It took hours for emergency crews to bring the blaze under controlImage: picture-alliance

'Government must take urgent action'

Wary of growing anger over industrial accidents, Beijing has vowed for years to improve industrial safety standards and increase oversight. But environmentalists say little has changed and workers are still at risk.

"Tragic accidents occur on an almost daily basis," said Greenpeace researcher Cheng Qian in a report. "The government must take urgent action to manage chemicals in a sound manner, provide a safety net for workers and citizens, and protect ecologically important areas across the country."

History of accidents

China has been rocked by deadly industrial accidents in recent years. In 2015, a massive explosion at a site in Tianjin killed more than 170 people. Authorities traced the explosion to improperly stored hazardous chemicals.

Last November, 52 people fell ill due to a major chemical spill in Fujian province, while 23 were killed in a chemical plant explosion in Zhangjiakou.

Read more: As China takes 'center stage,' Europe stands at a crossroads

Every evening, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.

ls/rc (Reuters, AFP)