Huge Blast Rocks Jiangsu Chemical Plant

A huge explosion rocked a chemical plant in Jiangsu province on Thursday, injuring at least 12 people and shattering the windows of nearby buildings, officials and state media said.

The blast occurred at around 2:50pm at a chemical facility run by Tianjiayi Chemical in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, city officials said on their official Twitter-like Weibo account.

Around the time of the explosion, the mainland's earthquake administration reported a 2.2-magnitude tremor in Lianyungang, a city near the Yancheng blast.

Injured residents near the site of the explosion have been sent to hospital for treatment, according to local authorities.

Medical staff, as well as personnel from the public security bureau and fire department have been sent to the scene, they added.

The provincial fire brigade said on Weibo they had recovered 12 injured from the scene.

Video footage published by state-run Beijing News on Weibo, showed an enormous explosion, with flames engulfing the top of the chemical plant.

Other shots showed thick grey smoke billowing skyward from the site of the blast.

Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed windows of nearby houses blown out from the force of the explosion. (AFP)

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