China chemical blast toll increases to 47

The death toll from a blast that ripped through a chemical plant in China's Jiangsu province has increased to 47, with 90 others seriously injured, authorities said on Friday.

The blast took place at 2.48 p.m. on Thursday following a fire that broke out in the plant located in an industrial park in Xiangshui county, Yancheng city, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the authorities, the explosion has affected 16 surrounding businesses.

The fire was put out early Friday morning.

Meawnhile, President Xi Jinping said all-out efforts must be made to search for the people trapped in the plant.

Xi also ordered a probe into the cause of the accident as early as possible.

China's earthquake administration reported a tremor equivalent to 2.2-magnitude at the time of the blast.

The last big accident in China was the August 2015 Tianjin explosion, which killed more than 160 people and injured nearly 1,000.

--IANS

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