A powerful explosion at a steel plant in China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Sunday killed at least two people and left eight others missing, while 84 were injured, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred at a plate mill operated by Baogang United Steel in Baotou, western Inner Mongolia. Local media reported that the blast was triggered by the rupture of a 650-cubic-meter spherical tank containing high-temperature water and steam, which is used in the steelmaking process.
A total of 84 people were taken to hospital, including five in critical condition.
Authorities have suspended production at the affected plant and launched a city-wide safety inspection of industrial and commercial enterprises.
Baogang United Steel is the largest steel producer in Inner Mongolia and a major global supplier of rare earth-integrated steel products. The state-controlled company is majority owned by Baotou Steel (Group) Co., Ltd., and produces a wide range of products including seamless pipes, heavy rails, pipeline steel, flat steel products, and specialized mineral materials
