2injured, 9 missing in blast at explosives plant in China

Two persons were injured and nine others went missing today following a blast at an explosives plant in China's eastern Shandong Province.

The blast occurred at around 8 am in a workshop at Tianbao Chemical Industry Co, Ltd in Pingyi County, Linyi City.

Tianbao Chemical, founded in 1958, is a manufacturer of explosive materials for civil use.

A number of explosions in chemical factories have been reported in recent months causing many casualties.

Twin blasts destroyed a huge warehouse in Tianjin city on August 12 in which 173 people were killed.