Huge blast rips through Chinese city after reported chemical factory explosion just days after 158 were killed in similar incident

  • Explosion ripped through chemical plant in Dongying, eastern China, today
  • Bright flames and black smoke seen coming from factory in Shandong
  • It is not yet known if there are any injuries or fatalities following the blast
  • This comes almost three weeks after 158 people died in blast in Tianjin

A huge blast has ripped through a Chinese city following a reported chemical factory explosion just weeks after around 158 were killed in a similar incident.

Bright flames and black smoke were seen coming from a chemical plant in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong this evening.

The 'loud' explosion was seen and heard in the industrial zone of Lijin, Dongying City of Shandong, just before 11.30pm local time, state radio said.

A huge blast has ripped through a Chinese city following a chemical factory explosion in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong this evening

It is not yet known if there are any injuries or fatalities.

This comes almost three weeks after around 158 people died in a series of massive explosions at chemical warehouses in Tianjin - the world's 10th-largest port.

China formally detained 12 government officials and company executives following the blasts on suspicion of dereliction of duty or abuse of power.

One person died last month when an explosion hit a chemical plant in a different part of Shandong.

The latest explosion comes almost three weeks after around 158 people died in a series of massive blasts at chemical warehouses in Tianjin

The latest explosion comes almost three weeks after around 158 people died in a series of massive blasts at chemical warehouses in Tianjin

An aerial shot shows a massive hole caused by the two deadly explosions on August 12 in Tianjin

An aerial shot shows a massive hole caused by the two deadly explosions on August 12 in Tianjin

The explosion occurred at a factory of Shandong's Runxing Chemical company which is a subsidiary of Runxing Group. 

The latest incident is likely to heighten concerns about China’s growing chemical industry and what many say are lax regulations that can endanger residents. 

Anger over safety standards is growing in China, after three decades of swift economic growth marred by incidents from mining disasters to factory fires.

President Xi Jinping has vowed that authorities will learn the lessons paid for with blood. 

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