After deadly blast at China chemical plant, residents evacuate to safety
Plumes of black and grey smoke lingered over the plant at Gaomi, a city in the eastern province of Shandong, a day after the explosion, which the official Xinhua news agency said had injured 19, with six more missing.
Farmer Yu Qianming said he and his wife had moved their grandchild elsewhere as a precaution, although they felt safe in their home as long as the wind kept blowing in a northerly direction.
His family had escaped without injury, the 69-year-old said, while showing Reuters roofing material that fell and windows that shattered in the blast.
Local officials have yet to issue the results of air quality tests on Tuesday, after a column of orange and black smoke billowed from the plant.
On Wednesday, vehicles patrolled the perimeter of the site that sprawls over more than 47 hectares (116 acres), while drone footage showed multi-storey buildings flattened by the blast.
Liu Ming, a 60-year-old who lives 500 m (547 yards) away, said she was considering moving after her home and clothing store suffered extensive damage, though she did not have any firm plans yet.
She showed Reuters window frames pulverised by the blast, with shards of glass strewn among boxes of thread and clothes on the floor.
Several shops away, another store owner had a minor head wound from the blast, which happened while he was eating lunch.
Set up in August 2019 in the Gaomi Renhe chemical park, the Shandong Youdao Chemical plant develops and makes chemicals used in pesticides and pharmaceuticals, the company said on its website, with more than 300 employees at the site.
Blasts in recent years at chemical plants in China have included one in the northwest region of Ningxia in 2024 and another in the southeastern province of Jiangxi in 2023.
In 2015, two massive explosions at warehouses of hazardous and flammable chemicals in the port city of Tianjin that killed more than 170 people and injured 700 prompted tougher laws on storage of chemicals.
Another blast that year at a Shandong chemical plant killed 13.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Global hunger declines, but rises in Africa and western Asia: United Nation (UN) report
An estimated 8.2 percent of the global population, or about 673 million people, experienced hunger in 2024, down from 8.5 percent in 2023 and 8.7 percent in 2022. However, progress was not consistent across the globe, as hunger continued to rise in most subregions of Africa and western Asia, according to this year's The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) report published today by five specialized agencies of the United Nations. Launched during the Second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, SOFI 2025 indicates that between 638 and 720 million people faced hunger in 2024. Based on the point estimate* of 673 million, this represents a decrease of 15 million people from 2023 and of 22 million from 2022. While the decline is welcome, the latest estimates remain above pre-pandemic levels, with the high food inflation of recent years contributing to the slow recovery in food security. Notable improvements are seen in southern Asia and Latin America. The prevalence of undernourishment (PoU) in Asia fell from 7.9 percent in 2022 to 6.7 percent, or 323 million people, in 2024. Additionally, Latin America and the Caribbean as a region saw the PoU fall to 5.1 percent, or 34 million people, in 2024, down from a peak of 6.1 percent in 2020. Unfortunately, this positive trend contrasts sharply with the steady rise in hunger across Africa and western Asia, including in many countries affected by prolonged food crises. The proportion of the population facing hunger in Africa surpassed 20 percent in 2024, affecting 307 million people, while in western Asia an estimated 12.7 percent of the population, or more than 39 million people, may have faced hunger in 2024. It is projected that 512 million people could be chronically undernourished by 2030. Almost 60 percent of those will be in Africa. This highlights the immense challenge of achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), warned the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations agency for children (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Tracking nutrition targets From 2023 to 2024, the global prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity – an assessment registering the experience of constraints on access to adequate food during part of the year – decreased slightly, from 28.4 to 28.0 percent, accounting for 2.3 billion people. This is 335 million more than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and 683 million more than in 2015, when the Sustainable Development Agenda was adopted. Among the indicators of child nutrition, the prevalence of stunting in children under five declined from 26.4 percent in 2012 to 23.2 percent in 2024, reflecting global progress. The prevalence of child overweight (5.3 percent in 2012 and 5.5 percent in 2024), and in child wasting (7.4 percent in 2012 and 6.6 percent in 2024) remains largely unchanged. The percentage of infants under six months exclusively breastfed increased significantly, from 37.0 percent in 2012 to 47.8 percent in 2023, reflecting growing recognition of its health benefits. The prevalence of adult obesity rose from 12.1 percent in 2012 to 15.8 percent in 2022. New data show an increase in the global prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 49, from 27.6 percent in 2012 to 30.7 percent in 2023. Estimates for a new SDG indicator introduced in the report reveal that about one-third of children aged 6 to 23 months and two-thirds of women aged 15 to 49 years met minimum dietary diversity. Food inflation SOFI 2025 also examines the causes and consequences of the 2021–2023 food price surge and its impact on food security and nutrition. The report highlights that the global policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic – characterized by extensive fiscal and monetary interventions – combined with the impacts of the war in Ukraine and extreme weather events, contributed to recent inflationary pressures. This food price inflation has hindered the post-pandemic recovery in food security and nutrition. Since 2020, global food price inflation has consistently outpaced headline inflation. The gap peaked in January 2023, with food inflation reaching 13.6 percent, 5.1 percentage points above the headline rate of 8.5 percent. Low-income countries have been particularly hit hard by rising food prices. While median global food price inflation increased from 2.3 percent in December 2020 to 13.6 percent in early 2023, it climbed even higher in low-income countries, peaking at 30 percent in May 2023. Despite rising global food prices, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet fell from 2.76 billion in 2019 to 2.60 billion in 2024. However, the improvement was uneven. In low-income countries, where the cost of a healthy diet rose more sharply than in higher-income countries, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet increased from 464 million in 2019 to 545 million in 2024. In lower-middle-income countries (excluding India), the number rose from 79 million in 2019 to 869 million over the same period. The report recommends a combination of policy responses to food price inflation. They include targeted and time-bound fiscal measures, such as social protection programs, to safeguard vulnerable households; credible and transparent monetary policies to contain inflationary pressures; and strategic investments in agrifood R&D, transport and production infrastructure, and market information systems to improve productivity and resilience. What they said FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu: 'While it is encouraging to see a decrease in the global hunger rate, we must recognize that progress is uneven. SOFI 2025 serves as a critical reminder that we need to intensify efforts to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. To achieve this, we must work collaboratively and innovatively with governments, organizations, and communities to address the specific challenges faced by vulnerable populations, especially in regions where hunger remains persistent.' IFAD President, Alvaro Lario: 'In times of rising food prices and disrupted global value chains, we must step up our investments in rural and agricultural transformation. These investments are not only essential for ensuring food and nutrition security – they are also critical for global stability.' UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell: 'Every child deserves the chance to grow and thrive. Yet over 190 million children under the age of 5 are affected by undernutrition, which can have negative consequences for their physical and mental development. This robs them of the chance to live to their fullest potential. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report for 2025 underscores the need to act urgently for the world's youngest and most vulnerable children, as rising food prices could deepen nutrition insecurity for millions of families. We must work in collaboration with governments, the private sector and communities themselves to ensure that vulnerable families have access to food that is affordable and with adequate nutrition for children to develop. That includes strengthening social protection programs and teaching parents about locally produced nutritious food for children, including the importance of breastfeeding, which provides the best start to a baby's life. WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain: 'Hunger remains at alarming levels, yet the funding needed to tackle it is falling. Last year, WFP reached 124 million people with lifesaving food assistance. This year, funding cuts of up to 40 percent mean that tens of millions of people will lose the vital lifeline we provide. While the small reduction in overall rates of food insecurity is welcome, the continued failure to provide critical aid to people in desperate need will soon wipe out these hard-won gains, sparking further instability in volatile regions of the world.' WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus:"In recent years, the world has made good progress in reducing stunting and supporting exclusive breastfeeding, but there is still much to be done to relieve millions of people from the burdens of food insecurity and malnutrition. This report provides encouraging news, but also shows where the gaps are and who is being left behind, and where we must direct our efforts to ensure that everyone has access to a healthy and nutritious diet." Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Thailand: At least 6 killed in mass shooting at Bangkok market, says police official
At least six people were killed at a market in a shooting incident in the Thai capital Bangkok on Monday, a police official said. The number of fatalities includes the gunman who took his own life, Charin Gopatta, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said. Four security guards at the Or To Ko market, which sells agricultural produce and local food, were killed by the gunman, as well as a woman, according to the Erawan Emergency Medical Centre that monitors Bangkok hospitals. "Police are investigating the motive. So far it's a mass shooting," Worapat Sukthai, deputy police chief of Bangkok's Bang Sue district where the incident took place, said. He added that the police were working to identify the attacker, as well as investigating "for any possible link" to the current border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. The attack took place at Or Tor Kor Market, a short distance from Chatuchak market which is a major tourist destination in Bangkok and throngs with visitors every weekend. Mass shootings are not uncommon in Thailand, where firearms can be obtained relatively easily due to lax gun control enforcement.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
AIA Hong Kong continues to lead the insurance industry with the most market No.1* in Q1 2025
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 28 July 2025 - AIA Hong Kong has once again led the industry with the most market No.1 in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Provisional Statistics of the Insurance Authority on Hong Kong Long-Term Insurance Business*. Mr Alger Fung, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Hong Kong & Macau, said, "The continued achievements would not have been possible without our team's daily commitment to putting our customers first. We are also deeply grateful to our customers for their long-standing trust and support. Our unwavering commitment to customer centricity is the cornerstone of our sustained leadership in the industry. We are fortunate that AIA is powered by a remarkable pool of talent driving our growth. This was recently reaffirmed by the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) rankings, where AIA Hong Kong not only secured the No. 1 position in MDRT, COT, and TOT locally, but also achieved four global No. 1 rankings—including top honours in both MDRT and TOT. We will keep going beyond for our customers and inspire communities to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives." These achievements underscore the strength of AIA Hong Kong's Premier Agency strategy and the unwavering dedication of our financial planners, who consistently go above and beyond to serve customers with professionalism and care. Moreover, they stand as a testament to AIA Hong Kong's innovative and comprehensive propositions, which provide holistic solutions across health, wealth, and MPF—supporting the diverse needs of both individual and corporate customers. AIA Hong Kong's customer-first mindset is also reflected in the digital experiences it delivers. The AIA+ mobile app continues to lead the trend, driving innovation in customer engagement. With millions of downloads and the highest mobile app ratings among key Hong Kong insurers #, AIA+ is fostering stronger connections and deeper trust with our customers. Putting customers first also means caring for the broader community. As a purpose-led brand, AIA actively empowers individuals and communities to live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. Programmes such as AIA Vitality and the AIA Healthiest Schools Programme are enhancing health literacy and fostering long-term wellbeing across generations. As the community continues to face rising medical inflation, AIA Hong Kong took the lead in convening cross-sector stakeholders at the inaugural Healthcare Financing Summit to explore collaborative solutions that make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and sustainable—for both the community and future generations. AIA Hong Kong is also finding creative ways to deepen public understanding of the insurance industry. A recent example is the sponsorship of the TVB drama 《中年好翻身》, which uses the insurance profession as a backdrop to explore themes of resilience and personal growth—highlighting the professionalism and meaningful role our financial planners play in customers' lives. Looking ahead, AIA will continue to bring international experiences to Hong Kong. On 31 July, AIA will lead the first-ever North London Derby at the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025, as the Global Principal Partner of Tottenham Hotspur. AIA Hong Kong is also proud to be the title sponsor of G.E.M.'s I AM GLORIA World Tour – Hong Kong stop, further enriching the city's cultural landscape. Notes: * As the Insurance Authority is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the scope and criteria for collecting policyholder information for non-local policies, it will not release breakdown statistics related to Mainland visitors until this work is completed. Therefore, the Insurance Authority has not published the relevant provisional statistics for both local and non-local segments. The current set of statistics does not include figures for Number of Local New Business Policies, Number of Non-Local New Business Policies, Local Annualised New Premiums, and Non-local Annualised New Premiums. "AIA Hong Kong has once again led the industry with the most market No.1" refers to its top position in the following categories: Number of Inforce Policies**, Number of New Business Policies, New Office Premiums from Agency Channel^, Annualised New Premiums from Agency Channel^, Number of New Business Policies from Agency Channel—making up the highest share among the 11 key metrics compared to other market peers. Provisional statistics of the Insurance Authority on Hong Kong long-term insurance business from January to March 2025. The policies refer to Direct Individual New Business and Direct Inforce Business of Participating Business, Other Businesses (Excluding Group Business) and Linked Long Term (Class C). "Agency channel" refers to "Agents" as classified by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority under Distribution Channel. ** Refers to AIA International Limited, AIA Company Limited and AIA Everest Life Company Limited. ^ "Annualised New Premiums" represents 100% of annualised first year premium and 10% of single premium. "New Office Premiums" represents 100% of annualised first year premium and 100% of single premium. # As of June 2025. Hashtag: #AIA #友邦 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About AIA Hong Kong & Macau AIA Group Limited established its operations in Hong Kong in 1931. To date, AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau have about 18,000 financial planners 1, as well as an extensive network of independent financial advisors, brokerage and bancassurance partners. We serve over 3.6 million customers 2, offering them a wide selection of professional services and products ranging from individual life, group life, accident, medical and health, pension, personal lines insurance to investment-linked assurance schemes with numerous investment options. We are also dedicated to providing superb product solutions to meet the financial needs of high-net-worth customers. 1 As at 30 June 2025 2 Including AIA Hong Kong and AIA Macau's individual life, group insurance and pension customers (as at 30 June 2025) AIA Hong Kong
