About 21 killed in power plant explosion in China

A huge explosion has killed at least 21 people at a power plant in the Chinese city of Dangyang in the central province of Hubei.

The Xinhua news agency said on Thursday that the incident took place when a high-pressure steam pipe at a coal-fired electricity factory exploded at around 15:30 local time (7:30 GMT).

Five people were also injured and rushed to hospital, the official news agency said. They are reportedly in a critical condition.

A huge plume of smoke could be seen rising from the facility into the air. Earlier reports said a chemical plant had been hit by a blast. 

Officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the incident.

Deadly incidents, from mining disasters to factory fires, are common in China despite the government’s promise to improve safety measures.

SS