At least two people were killed and 66 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a steel plant in northern China on Sunday, according to state media.
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the blast occurred in the afternoon at a facility operated by Baogang United Steel in the city of Baotou, a major industrial hub in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Local emergency management and fire rescue authorities confirmed that, as of 5:30 pm local time, two fatalities had been recorded, while five people remained missing. Officials said three of the injured were in critical condition, with dozens of others receiving medical treatment for varying degrees of injury.
Images circulating on Chinese social media platforms showed collapsed roofs, twisted metal debris, and thick plumes of smoke rising above the factory complex. Fire engines and emergency crews were seen working at the site as rescue operations continued.
Residents living several kilometers from the plant said the explosion shook nearby buildings and shattered windows, highlighting the force of the blast and raising concerns about industrial safety in the area.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. Authorities said an investigation is underway to establish what triggered the incident and whether safety regulations were breached.
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