5 dead and 6 missing after chemical plant blast in Chinese province of Shandong

An explosion has hit a chemical plant in Shandong province eastern China, producing a large fireball and sending plumes of smoke hundreds of feet into the air.

Rescue efforts were ongoing on Tuesday afternoon but the number of casualties was unknown, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The explosion occurred at a site owned by Shandong Youdao Chemical in Gaomi city just before noon. The cause is yet to be determined.

Residents reported hearing a loud bang and said the blast had shattered the windows of many houses.

Thepaper.cn spoke to one local resident who said his house had been “shaken” by the blast.

He said that he was inside his home at the time and the windows had been shattered and objects sent flying around the house.