ISLAMABAD (PEN) : One day after a devastating blast at a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong province, residents near the site are evaluating the damage and monitoring air quality amid concerns over toxic fallout.
The explosion occurred just before noon on Tuesday at Shandong Youdao Chemical’s facility in Gaomi city, releasing thick plumes of orange and black smoke that could be seen for kilometers. Debris from the blast scattered along the roadside for over a kilometer, prompting emergency crews to continue firefighting and containment efforts at the smoldering site.
State media agency Xinhua reported that at least five people lost their lives, with nineteen injured and six others still missing.
Local residents remain cautious. Yu Qianming, a 69-year-old farmer, showed the damage to his home including fallen roofing and shattered windows but said no family members were injured. “We feel safe as long as the wind keeps blowing north,” Yu told Reuters, noting that they had relocated their grandchild as a precaution.
Shandong Youdao Chemical, established in August 2019, operates within the Gaomi Renhe chemical park. The company specializes in producing chemical components used in pesticides and pharmaceuticals, employing over 300 workers on a site spanning more than 47 hectares (116 acres).
Officials have yet to disclose the results of air quality tests, leaving residents anxiously awaiting confirmation on environmental safety.
