Explosion at Chinese chemical plant kills 47, injures nearly 640 - PHOTO - VIDEO

At least 44 people were killed and hundreds injured in an explosion that rocked a chemical plant in Yancheng, a city in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, city mayor Cao Lubao said at a news conference aired by many Chinese media on Friday.

Report informs citing TASS that a total of 16 hospitals in Yancheng and its outskirts rendered medical assistance to about 640 victims of the accident, including 32 people in critical condition, and 58 who were seriously injured.

The rescue and recovery effort involves 192 fire crews and over 930 servicemen. Heavy equipment for debris removal arrived to the area from 12 nearby cities. By now, firefighters extinguished three burning containers with chemicals and five other sources of fire at the plant’s territory.