BEIJING, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - At least five people were killed and 55 others injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in southwest China on Tuesday, local media said.
The accident occurred at 6:00 a.m. local time [22:00 GMT] in Yizhou city, in Guangxi province. More than 12,000 people have been evacuated from the nearby area over fears of more explosions and chemical leaks.
Local authorities have warned that the death toll could increase as 14 people were unaccounted for.
Xinhua news agency earlier reported that several blasts were heard at the plant, which mainly produces chemicals for adhesives and paints.
A July study named the province one of the country's most polluted areas.
Explosions and other industrial accidents are frequent in China, resulting in thousands of deaths each year. Accidents are blamed on poor safety equipment and disregard for safety rules.
