Huge blast rocks Chinese chemical plant

The blast took place in the workshop of Shandong Youdao Chemical in Gaomi city, Shandong province minutes before noon local time, with rescue and medical efforts currently underway, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The CCTV report did not give a reason for the blast. There were no immediate reports of casualties in state media.

Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed gray and orange smoke billowing upwards, engulfing buildings in an industrial park. Windows in some nearby low-rise buildings were damaged, the footage showed.

The local fire and rescue services dispatched 55 vehicles and 232 personnel to the scene, while the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a working group and rescue reinforcements, the ministry said in a statement.

staff member working at a hotel some 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) from the blast site said she heard the explosion around noon.