Eight killed in Shuoyang explosion near China’s Shanxi province

An explosion rocked a small biotech company early Saturday morning in Shuoyang, Shanxi province, northern China. State media reported eight people had perished and detained the legal representative of Jiapeng Biotechnology. A city investigation team has been formed.

The incident occurred when dark yellow smoke billowed from the site amidst the rugged terrain, a scene that contrasted with the firm’s location in a mountain hollow, state news outlets relayed. Xinhua emphasized it was over 40 kilometers away from Shanyin town center.

While Reuters tried but failed to reach Jiapeng Biotechnology through various means, South China Morning Post detailed that the workshop was situated in an isolated part of the region formerly known as a mining site. Public records indicated Jiapeng Biotechnology had been established on June 26 with its registered address near a village.

Notably, it lacked licensing to handle dangerous chemicals, which remains a point of speculation regarding the cause of the blast.

In response, China denounced an attack in Islamabad and pledged support for victims, adding another layer of intrigue to this incident. The company’s lack of online presence has further complicated efforts to piece together details of what occurred that fateful day.