Photo taken on Nov. 28, 2018 shows the scene of a press conference held by the Information Office of Zhangjiakou Municipality on a chemical truck explosion in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province. Rescue work came to a close for a chemical truck explosion in the city of Zhangjiakou, Wednesday, which caused 23 deaths and 22 injuries. No air pollution had been detected according to the on-site environmental monitoring and sampling, said Guo Ying, executive vice mayor of Zhangjiakou. A truck carrying combustible chemicals exploded in Qiaodong District in the city of Zhangjiakou at around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, causing a series of blasts of nearby vehicles. (Xinhua/Wang Xiao)
SHIJIAZHUANG, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Rescue work came to a close for a chemical truck explosion in the city of Zhangjiakou, northern China's Hebei Province, Wednesday, which caused 23 deaths and 22 injuries.
No air pollution had been detected according to the on-site environmental monitoring and sampling, said Guo Ying, executive vice mayor of Zhangjiakou.
A truck carrying combustible chemicals exploded in Qiaodong District in the city of Zhangjiakou at around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, causing a series of blasts of nearby vehicles.
A total of 23 people were confirmed dead, and the injured are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals, said a source of the city's fire department.
The fire was extinguished as of Wednesday afternoon.
According to a preliminary investigation, the truck carrying acetylene exploded when entering the Haipo'er New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., near Hebei Shenghua Chemical Industry, a big chemical enterprise.
The blast ignited 38 trucks and 12 cars nearby.
The blasts and ensuing fire also damaged a high-voltage power line, leading to a power outage at four communication base stations and several companies including Haipo'er New Energy Technology.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a work team to the site to guide rescue work, while the local government is verifying the identities of the victims.
Further investigation is underway.
