Massive explosion rocks chemical facility in Eastern China; thick smoke, toxic concerns grip city | WATCH

A powerful explosion rocked a chemical plant in China’s eastern Shandong province on Tuesday, sending massive plumes of smoke into the air, according to state media reports. While details on casualties remain unclear, the blast occurred just before noon at a workshop operated by Shandong Youdao Chemical in the city of Weifang.

Over 200 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene to battle the ensuing fire and manage the crisis. The incident quickly drew widespread attention on Chinese social media, with growing concerns about potential exposure to toxic gases. Authorities have instructed emergency teams to swiftly contain the blaze and verify the number of injuries or fatalities.

A footage released by state-backed Beijing News showed windows being ripped from their hinges by the explosion, while The Paper, another state-run outlet, reported that some residents' belongings had been blown out onto the street.

Clips also showed debris strewn across a road, a car with a smashed windscreen, and dark orange flames devouring installations in the background.

The blast occurred at the Youdao Chemical plant at around 11:57 am (0357 GMT) in Gaomi, a town in Shandong province around 450 kilometres (280 miles) southeast of the capital Beijing, according to the China News agency.