Fatalities rise to 4 in plant blast in China's Inner Mongolia, 6 still missing

HOHHOT, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Sunday's explosion at a plate plant in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has risen to four, with six people still missing and 84 injured, the on-site emergency rescue headquarters said on Monday.

Search and rescue efforts are currently underway, with over 1,100 personnel from various levels and departments now mobilized at the scene.

The explosion occurred at 3:03 p.m. on Sunday at a plate plant of Baogang United Steel in western Baotou City. It was caused by the blast of a 650-cubic-meter saturated water and steam spherical tank.

The Work Safety Commission under the State Council has decided to oversee the investigation into the explosion, the Ministry of Emergency Management said on Monday. The ministry has urged all-out efforts in rescue operations and medical treatment for the injured, called for scientific measures to prevent secondary accidents, and requested a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident. ■