SHIJIAZHUANG - The death toll from an explosion on Tuesday at a chemical plant has climbed to 17, and 46 others are wounded, according to authorities in North China's Hebei province.

The blast ripped through Hebei Keeperchemical Industries Co Ltd in Zhaoxian county at around 9:30 am Tuesday. It flattened one of the factory's workshops and shattered window panes within a radius of 2,000 meters, witnesses and local government officials said.

Dozens more are feared missing or dead at the scene, according to Zhaoxian county's deputy chief, Wu Haijiang.

Wu said about 100 people were at work when the blast happened. But the emergency rescue headquarters were forced to halt search and rescue Tuesday night, fearing further blasts might cause more fatalities, he said.

The rescue resumed on Wednesday after a suspected ammonia gas leak from the rubble.

A special task-force was formed to investigate the case.

The chemical plant was founded in 2005, with an investment of 217 million yuan ($34.5 million), officials said earlier.