A massive explosion at a chemical plant in Gaomi, Shandong province, killed at least five people and injured 19 others on Tuesday, with six more still missing as of Wednesday. The blast, which originated at the Shandong Youdao Chemical Co. facility, reduced buildings to rubble, blackened surrounding structures, and filled the sky with thick, dark smoke, prompting widespread fear and evacuations among residents.
Footage of the aftermath showed flattened multi-story buildings and broken windows stretching across the vicinity. Liu Ming, a 60-year-old resident living just 500 meters from the blast, said, "The fire was intense, bursting out fiercely, and it was really close to us." Liu told Reuters she had suffered severe property damage to both her home and clothing store and was considering relocating. "(The authorities) told us to stay in a hotel. It's okay for a day or two, but look at us now. We have no land, nothing."
According to local officials cited by Xinhua News Agency, the cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Testing for air quality and contamination began Tuesday, though no results have been released. The factory, located in Gaomi Renhe Chemical Park, manufactures chemicals used in pesticides and pharmaceuticals and employs over 300 workers.
Emergency response was immediate, with 230 personnel deployed to contain the incident, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Residents reported damage several miles away. A restaurant owner nearly two miles from the site described the explosion as feeling like "a small earthquake" and said some windows developed cracks from the shockwave.
Yu Qianming, a 69-year-old farmer, told Reuters the factory had long posed a concern for locals. "Ideally this chemical factory shouldn't be so close to here... it's too near, isn't it? Especially at night when it's operating, the smell from the factory is really strong." He and his wife moved their grandchild out of the area as a precaution.
China's State Council, the country's cabinet, announced it would oversee the investigation directly. Local officials in Shandong also held emergency safety meetings to assess risks in high-hazard sectors, including chemicals and coal. A government meeting summary cited by provincial media indicated a renewed focus on enforcement in industrial zones.
The Gaomi site is one of several Chinese chemical facilities rocked by deadly blasts in recent years. Explosions in Jiangxi province in 2023 and Ningxia in 2024 were followed by Beijing's push for stricter oversight. In 2015, a twin explosion at a hazardous material warehouse in Tianjin killed more than 170 people and spurred new laws governing chemical storage.
The Youdao plant had previously been cited for safety violations but was also recognized by local authorities for correcting over 800 safety issues in early 2024, according to state media. Still, the force of Tuesday's explosion and the scale of destruction have reignited scrutiny.
Students at a school more than half a mile from the plant were instructed to wear masks and remain indoors. One student described seeing "dirt-yellow smoke, tainted with redness" and added, "There was a funny smell."
Authorities have restricted access to the blast site, with roads blocked and patrol vehicles monitoring the perimeter. Drone footage revealed acres of destruction across the 47-hectare industrial zone. Nearby shop owners suffered minor injuries, and damage to commercial areas remains extensive.
Reuters contributed to this report
