China's work safety regulations questioned as another chemical plant explodes. (Photo : Getty Images)
More than 20 people were reportedly killed and five others were injured in a destructive explosion in a coal-powered power plant in the central province of Hubei in China.
A report from China Daily revealed that a power plant operated by the Dangyang Madian Gangue Electricity Supply Co. has exploded, killing at least 21 people in the process.
Initial investigations indicate that the blast which occurred around 3:20 pm was caused by a broken high-pressure steam pipes, the State Administration of Work Safety said in a statement cited by the outlet.
State Administration of Work Safety Head Yang Huanning has already ordered rescuers to help in the search for possible victims and survivors as well as in probing the cause of the blast.
The incident comes a day before the country commemorates the first anniversary of the Tianjin chemical plant explosion which killed almost 200 people in 2015.
Because of this, several media outlets like Al Jazeera recalled a previous statement from an official who noted a possibility of mismanagement issue in local power plants where the explosions occurred.
"In February an official report said the explosions were the result of a culture of mismanagement at the warehouse where the chemicals were stored as well as lax oversight by regulators," said Al Jazeera's Adrian Brown who was reporting from Tianjin at the time.
The outlet further noted that a total of 25 people some of whom are state workers are still under investigation for the catastrophic blast in Tianjin for illegally storing hazardous chemicals in the destroyed plant.
According to the State Administration of Work Safety, the country recorded a total of 28,115 work safety accidents between July and June.
More than 16,000 victims were either killed or severely injured during these incidents, bringing to question the effectiveness of the country's work safety regulations and regulating body.
