12 rescued after blast rocks industrial park in eastern China

NANJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people have been rescued after an explosion ripped through an Industrial Park in the city of Yancheng, eastern China's Jiangsu Province, Thursday afternoon, local authorities said.

Workers were trapped after buildings were knocked down by the shockwave, which also shattered windows of nearby residential houses.

Witnesses said many workers were seen running out of the factory covered in blood after the blast.

The government of Xiangshui county said the explosion happened at about 2:48 p.m. following a fire that broke out in a factory that produces pesticides located in a chemical Industrial Park.

The firefighter brigade of Jiangsu said they had mobilized 86 fire trucks to join the rescue mission.