One Dead After Chemical Factory Explodes in China's Shandong Province

A factory in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong went up in flames on Saturday night in another explosion apparently involving hazardous chemicals, according to Chinese state media.

The blast reportedly occurred at a chemical plant in the city of Zibo, in Huantai County, about 250 miles south of Beijing, according to People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Xinhua state news agency reported nine people were hospitalized with injuries related to the blast. One person working at the facility was killed, Xinhua said. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

The explosion, which occurred shortly before 9pm local time, also ignited a fire. The blaze was of particular concern because the plant produced adiponitrile, a colorless liquid that releases poisonous gases when it reacts with fire, according to the state-run Beijing Times. Adiponitrile is used to make nylon and other products.

Photos and video footage showed a massive ball of fire illuminating the night sky with heavy smoke billowing from the flames. Seven fire brigades consisting of a total of 150 firefighters and 20 engines were reportedly dispatched to the scene. According to Xinhua, some of those brigades are trained to work with fires involving chemicals.

The fire was brought under control by late Saturday night, the South China Morning Post said.

The blast was powerful enough to shatter windows in the village where the chemical plant was located, and tremors were felt as far as two kilometers (about 1.3 miles) away from the factory, according to Reuters.

Related: In Photos: The Aftermath of the Massive Explosion in the Chinese City of Tianjin

Shandong Blast: Firefighters at the scene said the plant contained adiponitrile, which could release toxics in fire — People's Daily,China (@PDChina)August 22, 2015

Shandong Blast: Photos of the scene where a chemical plant exploded on Sat. Residential area is nearby — People's Daily,China (@PDChina)August 22, 2015

The latest incident comes just 10 days after several massive explosions at a warehouse that stored hazardous chemicals rocked the port city of Tianjin, killing 116 people and injuring at least 700 others.

Several new fires have erupted within the Tianjin evacuation zone in recent days, and concerns about contamination in the area have forced thousands to leave their homes.

An investigation is currently underway to determine who is responsible for the explosion at the Tianjin plant, and whether the plant's operators erred by allowing chemicals to be stored so close to homes.

Related: Caged Bunnies Placed at Tianjin Explosion Site to Reassure Public as New Fires Erupt

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This story has been updated since it was originally published on August 22 at 2:45pm EST