At least 5 dead, 6 missing after China chemical plant explosion
The explosion happened just before noon and shook part of the facility, Reuters said. Videos shared on Chinese social media showed thick black and orange smoke rising into the sky. In one of the videos, windows of nearby buildings were blown out by the force of the blast.
🇨🇳 An explosion occurred at a chemical plant in eastern China, — South China Morning Post.
❗️The plant belongs to Shandong Youdao Chemical, which is the world's largest producer of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, producing about 11 thousand tons of the substance per year. pic.twitter.com/XSNCpCX9ed
— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) May 27, 2025
More than 200 emergency workers were sent to the scene, China's emergency management authority said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.
Footage from a drone, published by The Beijing News a government-backed outlet showed smoke coming not only from the chemical plant but also from another nearby site that was not identified.
The Weifang Ecological Environment Bureau sent terms to the area to check for pollution following the explosion. As of Tuesday night, no test results had been released. In the meantime, authorities advised residents nearby to wear masks, according to The Beijing News, Reuters said.
Shandong Youdao Chemical is part of Himile Group. The parent company also owns Himile Mechanical, which is publicly listed. Shares of Himile Mechanical dropped nearly 3.6 per cent on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
According to its website, Youdao was set up in August 2019 and is based in the Gaomi Renhe chemical park in Weifang. The plant spans over 47 hectares and employs more than 300 people. The company makes chemical ingredients used in products like pesticides and medicines.
The Baidu Maps app shows several other factories near the Youdao plant, including companies that produce textiles, machinery and industrial coatings.
Chemical plant explosions have happened in China before. In 2015, two huge blasts at a warehouse storing chemicals in Tianjin killed more than 170 people and injured hundreds more. That event led the government to tighten safety rules around chemical storage. Other explosions have taken place in recent years, including one in Ningxia in 2024 and another in Jiangxi in 2023.
In 2015, an explosion at a chemical plant in Shandong killed 13 people, Reuters added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
NYC Mayoral race: Eric Adams' campaign volunteer suspended after giving cash-in-chips bag to reporter; apologises, calls it ‘a culture thing'
File photo: Eric Adams with campaign volunteer Winnie Greco (Picture credit: AP) A longtime confidante of New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been suspended from his re-election campaign after she attempted to hand a journalist a potato chip bag containing cash. The incident unfolded on Wednesday in Harlem, where Adams was opening a campaign office. According to The City, reporter Katie Honan was approached by Winnie Greco, a former City Hall adviser and major Adams fundraiser. Greco asked her to meet at a Whole Foods near the campaign site. Inside the store, Greco pressed an opened bag of Herr's Sour Cream & Onion potato chips into Honan's hands. Honan initially refused, thinking it was just a snack, but Greco insisted. When Honan later opened the bag, she discovered a red envelope with cash inside — including at least one $100 bill and several $20 bills, The City reported. She immediately phoned Greco, saying she could not accept the money. Greco responded that she had already left and suggested they could meet later in Chinatown. In an interview with The City, Greco apologised repeatedly. 'I make a mistake,' she said. 'I'm so sorry. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo It's a culture thing. I don't know. I don't understand. I'm so sorry. I feel so bad right now. I'm so sorry, honey.' she said. Later, she asked the outlet not to publish the story and talk to her attorney. 'Can we forget about this? I try to be a good person. Please. Please. Please don't do in the news nothing about me', she added, as per The City. 'I just wanted to be her friend. I just wanted to have one good friend. It's nothing', she further said. Greco's lawyer, Steven Brill, was quoted by the news agency Associated Press that the episode was 'being blown out of proportion,' insisting that in Chinese culture, cash is often given 'as a gesture of friendship and gratitude.' He added, 'Winnie's intention was born purely out of kindness. I grant you this looks odd, but it was innocent.' Adams' campaign swiftly distanced itself. As per AP, spokesperson Todd Shapiro said Greco 'holds no position in this campaign and has been suspended from all volunteer activities,' stressing that the mayor had 'no prior knowledge of this matter' and remains committed to 'the highest ethical and legal standards.' Following the discovery, Honan returned the envelope and bag to her editors. The City alerted the department of investigation (DOI), which later confirmed receiving the complaint. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn then retrieved the bag, according to the outlet. Greco has been under federal scrutiny since the FBI raided two of her Bronx properties in February 2024. She resigned as Adams' Asian affairs director later that year but has remained a visible figure at campaign events. According to The New York Times, she had previously helped Adams raise significant funds and was once described by senior aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin as 'my sister.' Her history with Adams stretches back more than a decade, during which she connected him to Chinese-American donors and organisations.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Can a satellite be hijacked? Evidence shows it has happened more than once - From Cold War era CIA ops to modern cyberattacks
NEW DELHI: From guiding planes and ships to providing weather data, beaming TV signals, connecting remote regions, and even monitoring enemy movements, satellites have become indispensable since the first one was launched in 1957. But like most electronic systems, they are not immune to hacking. Over the years, multiple cases have shown that satellites can indeed be hijacked, sometimes with disturbing consequences. Rising count... ➤ A recent report claims a satellite providing TV services was hijacked in May to beam Russian Victory Day celebrations to a Ukrainian audience ➤ In 2023, leaked Pentagon documents revealed a Chinese programme to target military communications satellites ➤ Also in 2023, hackers backed by Pentagon launched a cyberattack at a US Air Force satellite to check for vulnerabilities. Three teams succeeded by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo ➤ In 2022, US-based satellite services provider Viasat faced a hack — blamed on Russians — that knocked out 45,000 modems in 45 minutes ➤ That same year, participants at the Def Con hacking conference took over a decommissioned satellite using equipment worth $300, and used it to broadcast films ➤ In 2018, there was an attempt by suspected Chinese operators to disable a private company's satellite communications ➤ In 2011, reports said hackers had interfered with US satellites used for monitoring climate and terrain four times in 2007-08 ➤ As far back as 1999, when experts believed hacking satellites was impossible, hackers made the sensational claim that they had altered the path of a British military communications satellite, and demanded a ransom to stop interfering with it 3 ways it's done Just as you can't hold a conversation in a noisy place, a satellite can be made ineffective by drowning out its signals with blank signals The second way is to jam the satellite's communications with a rogue signal that's stronger than the one transmitted by the legit base station Hijacking is tougher because it means taking over a satellite and making it do what its owners don't want it to, like beaming a Russian parade into Ukraine First-ever hack The earliest known satellite hack dates back to 1959, when a CIA team dismantled a Soviet 'Lunik' satellite that was being displayed at an exhibition in Mexico City. They took apart its components, photographed them, and then reassembled the satellite before it was returned. Declassified papers later revealed that the Soviets never realised the satellite had been tampered with.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Roblox to shutdown? Company gets ‘things' straight
Roblox users worldwide were caught off guard this week after a viral claim suggested the gaming platform would permanently shut down on September 1, 2025. The message, which spread quickly across social media platform X, resembled an official company statement and cited user safety and community demand as the reasons for closure. It even carried a sympathetic tone, saying the decision was in the best interest of players, further fuelling the panic. Roblox talks about the reality of shutdown news as global bans and lawsuits raise concerns about the platform's future.(REUTERS) The fake announcement left millions of players, particularly children and teenagers, questioning the future of the platform. However, Roblox Corporation has not issued any such confirmation. In fact, the company has now dismissed the claim outright, calling it a recurring hoax that resurfaces every few years. What makes this round of rumours more believable is the timing. Roblox has been under mounting legal and regulatory scrutiny in several countries. Turkey, Oman, China, and Qatar have recently blocked access to the platform, citing concerns around inappropriate content and child safety. Governments have raised alarms over the type of games hosted within Roblox, claiming they expose minors to disturbing material. Adding to the controversy, a lawsuit filed in the US state of Louisiana accuses Roblox of failing to safeguard children from explicit games and online predators. The case highlights disturbing examples, such as 'Escape to Epstein Island' and 'Diddy Party', both of which allegedly contained harmful content. Such reports have raised serious questions about Roblox's ability to monitor and moderate its vast library of user-generated experiences. Despite the rumours and challenges, Roblox Corporation insists it is not shutting down. In a statement shared with PCGamesN and reiterated on its official X account, the company said: 'Let's set things straight: Roblox isn't 'shutting down.' The same hoax (with a few details changed) goes around every year or two. Remember: don't believe everything you read on the internet.' The platform remains fully functional and continues to engage with its community. Roblox has also reassured users that it is working to improve safety measures, content moderation, and compliance with global regulations. While the viral hoax may have unsettled its massive fan base, the bigger challenge for Roblox lies in addressing the very real scrutiny from governments and regulators. For now, Roblox players can continue gaming without disruption. But the controversy has highlighted the ongoing debate about online safety, child protection, and how far platforms should go in ensuring a secure digital environment. Mobile Finder: iPhone 17 Pro LATEST specs, features, and price
