Cause of Hebei explosion killing 22 still unknown

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.