At least 35 people have been killed and dozens more seriously injured after leaked oil from a ruptured pipe caught fire and exploded in an eastern Chinese port this morning.
The blast took place near a chemical plant in the Huangdao district of Qingdao early this morning, after an underground oil pipeline ruptured.
Repair work to the pipeline, owned by Sinopec, caused fire to break out and led to a massive explosion which took several hours to bring under control, and shut down operations at the oil port.
The force of the blast ripped roads apart, turning cars over and sending thick black smoke billowing over the city.
State television reported 166 people injured, with the aftermath of the explosion wiping out power in the city for several hours afterwards.
Chinese officials said oil had spilled into the port, which also caught fire, with tankers being told to stay away from Qingdao as a precaution.
President Xi Jinping called on local authorities to “spare no effort to rescue the injured and strengthen safety to eradicate such incidents”, according to the country’s state news agency Xinhua.
Recommended for you
