Videos show thick grey smoke and debris after blast at Youdao Chemical in Gaomi, Shandong province.
May 28, 2025: A massive explosion rocked a chemical plant in eastern China’s Shandong province on Tuesday, sending a towering mushroom cloud of grey smoke into the sky and blowing out shop windows in nearby areas.
Also Read: Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus-Led Govt Faces Growing Unrest Over New Service Law
The blast occurred at around 11:57 am local time at the Youdao Chemical plant in Gaomi, roughly 450 kilometers southeast of Beijing, according to state media.
#BREAKING #CHINA 🇨🇳
— THE UNKNOWN MAN (@Theunk13) May 27, 2025
Massive explosion rocked the Shandong Youdao Chemical plant in Gaomi, China today. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/u4Bytu89nL
Videos posted by the Beijing-based newspaper Xinjingbao captured dramatic scenes of dark orange flames consuming parts of the facility and thick plumes of smoke rising above the industrial zone. Shop windows appeared shattered by the force of the explosion, and debris littered nearby roads.
Also Read: India And Pakistan Tap Former Trump Aides As Lobbyists — Who’s Who Behind The Power Play?
Footage also showed a car with a smashed windscreen and the intense blaze engulfing parts of the chemical plant.
Massive Emergency Response
Emergency services dispatched 55 vehicles and 232 first responders to tackle the fire and secure the area, the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a statement.
Also Read: French Open: Novak Djokovic Cruises to Round Two at Roland Garros, Watch Highlights
The Youdao Chemical plant, spread across 47 hectares, employs around 300 people and produces “low-toxicity” pesticides, according to Chinese media outlet The Paper.
Ongoing Concerns About Industrial Safety
China has a troubling history of industrial accidents due to lax safety standards in its factories. In 2015, a series of explosions at chemical warehouses in the port city of Tianjin killed more than 170 people and injured 700.
Authorities have not yet reported any casualties from Tuesday’s blast.
Tags:
China chemical plant explosion, Shandong province, Youdao Chemical, industrial accidents China, mushroom cloud blast, Gaomi, emergency response, Chinese industrial safety