An explosion and major fire erupted in China’s Fujian province Monday night, sending six people to the hospital, officials reported. State news agency Xinhua said 177 fire engines and more than 800 firefighters were sent to the scene. The plant, in the city of Zhangzhou, produces the chemical paraxylene (PX), which is the basic raw material used to make polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyesters. Tremors from the explosion could be felt up to 50 km away and windows at a petrol station 1 km away were blown out. Nearby residents were evacuated and the blaze was contained with environmental teams deployed by Tuesday evening. The incident was the second blast at the Zhangzhou plant, operated by Dragon Aromatics, in two years. Many in China feel PX creates harmful pollution and have been protesting the new construction of paraxylene plants, with demonstrations turning violent last year in Guangdong province. Xinhua reported Monday’s blast occurred in a pumping station, after leaking oil caught fire.
Update: The fire had reignited Tuesday evening before being put out again. On Wednesday morning another tank containing nearly 1,500 tons of hydrocarbon liquid caught fire and exploded, forcing the evacuation of more than 14,000 residents.
For more information see BBC.com.