Blast kills 23 outside China factory

A truck carrying combustible chemicals exploded yesterday at the entrance of a chemical factory in a northern Chinese city that will host the 2022 Winter Olympics, leaving 23 people dead and 22 others injured, state media and authorities said.

A truck carrying acetylene blew up when entering the plant, igniting nearby vehicles, according to the official Xinhua news agency,.

Rescue efforts and the investigation were still underway, Xinhua said.

The blast damaged 38 trucks and 12 cars.

The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment following the blast at 00:41 am, according to the department.