An explosion at a state-run explosives factory in Anhui province on Saturday killed two workers and injured three others. Operations on the production line, where the explosion occurred, had been suspended earlier due to safety concerns, but factory managers asked the workers to return to work to meet order deadlines.

The blast occurred at the Hongxing Machinery Factory in Hefei City, Anhui province on 8 July. Workers at the factory, which is located in the centre of the city, said the accident occurred on a production line which was found to have safety problems and was suspended from operation. However, factory management restarted the line recently to meet order deadlines, according to a report carried by Hong Kong's Mingpao Daily.

The accident might have been due to the fact that the workers were exhausted from their long, 12-hour shifts in very hot weather and were less alert to safety issues, the report said.

Reporters travelling to the area seeking to cover the accident were blocked from the scene by local government officials. Local media were also not allowed to report the accident.

Hongxing Machinery is a state-owned factory producing explosives for military use and for the coal mining industry.

Source: Mingpao Daily (10 July 2006)

10 July 2006