The cause of the explosion that claimed 22 lives in Hebei is still unknown, despite media reports that a blast of a vehicle transporting hazardous chemicals led to a fire engulfing trucks with drivers inside, said authorities.

The blast occurred near Hebei Shenghua Chemical Industry Co in Qiaodong district, Zhangjiakou city, around 12:41 am. The accident also injured 22 others, who have been hospitalized.

A fire on the scene, which engulfed 38 trucks and another 12 cars, has been extinguished.

The explosion happened to a vehicle transporting hazardous chemicals near one of the gates of Shenghua, reported the news website thepaper.cn, quoting an official from a local work safety authority.

An official surnamed Wu also said the explosion then ignited nearby vehicles.
The Zhangjiakou work safety administration, however, told Beijing News that it’s only a preliminary speculation that the explosion ignited other vehicles.

“There is no official conclusion over the cause yet. It takes time to analyze and give a reason,” Beijing News quoted an official as saying.

Shenghua employees have denied the explosion happened to their company’s vehicle. The company, however, has suspended its operations out of safety concerns.

The National Health Commission has dispatched a five-member team consisting of burn therapists and psychologists to help treat and comfort those injured in an explosion early this morning in Hebei province, according to the commission.

It also said in an online media release that it has been coordinating with at least two hospitals in the capital, including Beijing Children’s Hospital and Capital Medical University, to proactively contribute to treating the injured transported to Beijing and to save those severely injured and minimize permanent disabilities for the victims.

Fu Jianhua, vice-minister of emergency management, has led a team to the site to guide relief work. Hebei authorities have set up a headquarters to deal with the aftermath of the accident and investigate the causes.

Hebei blast victim: Loud explosion before fire

A loud explosion was heard before fire engulfed trucks waiting in line to enter a chemical plant, said a victim who managed to escape with minor injuries from the blast that claimed 22 lives and injured another 22 in Hebei.

Almost 100 trucks were waiting to drive goods to Hebei Shenghua Chemical Industry Co and many of the drivers were sleeping when the accident happened at 12:41 am Tuesday, a victim surnamed Li told Yanzhao Metropolis Daily, which is headquartered in the Hebei provincial capital of Shijiazhuang.

The man, then asleep in his truck, sustained minor injuries when he jumped out of his blazing vehicle while wearing only underpants. He said he managed to get in touch with his next of kin with a phone he borrowed from a stranger after he rushed into the 251st Hospital of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army).

The fire engulfed 38 trucks and another 12 cars before it was extinguished. All injured have been rushed to hospital, authorities said.

A resident of Meijiaying village, which is about 1 kilometer away from the Shenghua factory, told the newspaper that the explosion even shook the windows of his home.

The man surnamed Wang, an employee of Shenghua, said his company has suspended operations and he has been told to await notification before restarting work.