A total of 16 people died after an explosion at a chemical plant in Anhui province, with another 24 workers being treated in hospital for injuries.
The explosion occurred on 16 June razed a two-storey explosives workshop at the factory owned by the Dun'an Chemical Group in Dangtu County which makes mining explosives. Ten bodies recovered were identified as workers but the other six were burnt beyond recognition.
It was unclear how many people were working in the plant when the blast occurred. Initial investigation found that there were at least four tonnes of explosives in the workshop and that the blast was likely triggered during powder mixing.
On 15 June, a day before the blast at the Dun'an factory, a series of explosions occurred at the Longxing Chemical Co. plant in Zhejiang Province, leaving one person injured and two missing.
On 12 June, a truck loaded with 60 tonnes of coal tar crashed and spilled its entire load into the Dasha River in Shanxi Province. The accident prompted local officials to scramble to prevent the sludge from flowing into a major reservoir 45 miles downstream.
Sources: Associated Press (19 June 2006), China Daily (19 June 2006), South China Morning Post (20 June 2006)
20 June 2006