Factory explosion in Shanghai kills 4, injures 2

Four Chinese workers were killed Wednesday in an explosion at a machinery factory in an industrial park on the outskirts of Shanghai, a local state-owned newspaper said.

The blast happened at the Shanghai Zhizhuo Machinery Equipment System Co Ltd factory in the city's Baoshan District around noon, and also injured two people, said the paper, the Xinmin Evening News.

The fire department confirmed the blast but declined to provide any details.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion. China has a poor record of workplace safety with a lack of government oversight. Cost-conscious management also tends to skimp on safety precautions.