At least 14 killed in China chemical plant blast

BEIJING, June 17 (Reuters) An explosion at a chemical plant in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui has killed at least 14 people and injured 30, Xinhua news agency reported today.

It was not clear how many workers were inside the plant owned by the Dunan Chemical Group Co. Ltd. when the blast happened yesterday afternoon, the report said.

An initial investigation found that the factory produces explosives for civilian uses such as mining, and the presence of combustible material raised fears there could be more blasts and was making rescue work slow.

Earlier this month 10 people were killed in a blast at a family dynamite workshop in a mining area in the northern province of Shanxi. In April, at least 33 were killed and buildings were flattened in the same province when explosives stored by a former coal mine owner ignited.

REUTERS SHB VV1454