Society

3 killed in workshop explosion in Xinjiang

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-01 21:54

URUMQI - Witnesses said at least three people were killed, and an unknown number of others injured, in a workshop explosion that occurred Wednesday evening in Urumqi, the capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous.

The casualty count has yet to be confirmed by local authorities.

Body parts were found 50 meters away from the workshop, according to reporters on the scene.

The blast occurred at 7:50 pm at a workshop located in the city's Lantian Road High-tech Development Zone, a spokesman with the city's public security bureau said.

The workshop belongs to Xinjiang Yuansheng Technology Development Co., Ltd., the spokesman said.

The blast occurred when a furnace in the factory exploded, according to witnesses.

The factory is an aluminum producer.

Rescuers are still working at the site of the blast.