Chemical plant explodes in NE China

An chemical plant in northeast China's Liaoning province exploded Tuesday afternoon, local fire department said.

The explosion occurred at 4:30 p.m. at the Wangjiao Chemical Plant in the Yuhong district of the provincial capital of Shenyang, shattering windows at a distance of 200 meters and resulting in a fire and massive cloud of smoke, witnesses said.

A total of 135 firefighters have been dispatched to extinguish the blaze. The fire department said chemical materials in the plant's storeroom were ignited, adding that the fire is under control.

The cause of the blast is under investigation.

There have been no reports of casualties thus far, the fire department said.