Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Five dead, two missing and over 100 injured and transported to hospital is the initial toll from an explosion in a chemical plant in Henan province. Xinhua reports that the explosion occurred overnight and setting part of the plant on fire. The disaster happened in the city of Luoyang, in the Luoran chemical plant. Of the 100 wounded in hospital, at least 7 are in very serious condition. Because of the fire, hundreds of people have been evacuated from the area.
Luoran produces material for dyeing fabrics, and trades with Japan, Great Britain and countries of Southeast Asia.
Another very similar incident, happened in Chongqing this morning, injuring 8 people. Six of them risk their lives.
Accidents at work are very common in China because of the unbridled development with which plants are built and because of poor maintenance. The industry that suffers most from this neglect is that the mining industry, with an annual death toll of approximately 20 thousand people.
The Chinese government has increased the penalties against those responsible for facilities that do not apply rules and safety measures. But the economic crisis gripping the country and the corruption of government representatives allows easy circumvention of the rules.