China probes factory blast after 47 killed

Yancheng: Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered local governments Friday to prevent any more industrial disasters after a chemical plant blast left 47 people dead, injured hundreds and flattened an industrial park in the latest such catastrophe to hit the country. Thursday’s explosion in eastern city of Yancheng, Jiangsu province was one of worst industrial disasters to hit China, with Xi acknowledging that the country has seen a rash of major accidents in recent years. Xi -- who is on a state visit to Italy -- urged “all-out efforts” to rescue those trapped and to identify the cause of the accident “as early as possible”, Xinhua said. (AFP)