Beijing: A powerful explosion rocked a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong province on Tuesday, sending plumes of grey and orange smoke into the air and prompting an urgent emergency response from local and national authorities.

The blast occurred just before noon at a facility operated by Shandong Youdao Chemical in Gaomi city, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, and state media have yet to confirm whether there were any casualties.

Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed the sky above the Renhe chemical park in Gaomi city clouded with thick smoke as people nearby fled or took cover. The force of the blast shattered windows in surrounding buildings and was reportedly felt kilometres away.

The local fire brigade responded swiftly, dispatching 55 vehicles and 232 personnel to the scene. The Ministry of Emergency Management also deployed a task force and additional reinforcements to aid in ongoing rescue and medical operations.

According to China Daily, residents living near the affected area have been advised to wear masks, as a precautionary measure, if they detect unusual odours.

Upon receiving the report of the blast, the Ministry of Emergency Management immediately dispatched a work team and specialised personnel, including firefighters, medical experts, and work safety specialists, to aid local rescue efforts, it said.

A total of 232 local firefighters have been sent to the scene.

Shandong Youdao Chemical, the site of the explosion, is a subsidiary of the Himile Group, which also owns the publicly traded Himile Mechanical. Shares of the latter dropped nearly 4% in Tuesday afternoon trading, according to Reuters.

Established in August 2019, Youdao Chemical spans more than 46 hectares in the Gaomi Renhe industrial park and employs over 300 people. The company focuses on the development, production and sale of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other chemical intermediates, according to its official website.

China has experienced several serious industrial accidents in recent years. In 2015, a catastrophic explosion at a chemical warehouse in Tianjin claimed over 100 lives and released hazardous fumes. More recently, blasts occurred in the Ningxia region in 2024 and in Jiangxi province in 2023.

(With inputs from Reuters, PTI)