5 dead, 20 missing in E China plant blast

Five people have been confirmed dead in a blast that ripped through an explosives manufacturing plant in east China's Shandong Province Monday morning.

The explosion occurred at 10:50 a.m. at the plant owned by the Poly Explosives (Jinan) Co., Ltd. at Caofan Township, Zhangqiu City. Thirty-four workers were working in the workshop at the time of the accident, according to local fire service department.

Fourteen workers have been pulled out of the site, including five who died, local fire service said.

Search and rescue work for all the 20 missing people is under way.

The Poly Explosives (Jinan) Co., Ltd. is a professional manufacturer of civil explosive materials. Covering an area of 66 hectares, the company's plant at Caofan Township serves as a new manufacturing base with an annual output of at least 30,000 tonnes of explosives, according to information on the company's official website.