Huge blast hits chemical plant in China's Shandong

A huge explosion rocked a chemical plant in China's eastern province of Shandong on Tuesday, state media said without providing any immediate details of casualties, while unverified social media images showed smoke billowing high overhead, Report informs via Reuters.

Emergency services swung in to begin rescue and treatment efforts after the blast, which came just before noon in the workshop of Shandong Youdao Chemical, broadcaster CCTV said, but gave no further details.

Some fled while others ducked for cover as grey smoke blanketed the sky in a video on Chinese social media platform Weibo, while other posts showed shattered glass in nearby villages, where residents said they felt the blast's vibrations.