Chemical plant explosion kills 6 in NW China

A blast at a plant run by the Lanzhou Chemical Company in northwest China's Gansu Province has killed six people and injured six others.

Fire authorities say the blaze has been brought under control and police are investigating the incident. Early signs point to a gas leak as the cause of the blast. Personnel from the China National Petroleum Corporation, which owns the Lanzhou Chemical Company, attended the site and directed rescue operations.

The dead and injured are all CNPC employees. The plant was 30 kilometers away from downtown Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province. Residential buildings near the plant were not affected by the blast.

Firefighters battle a blaze after explosion at a chemical plant in Lanzhou, capital  of northwest China's Gansu province, January 7, 2009.[Photo/CFP]