The explosion happened at 9:35 p.m. in a workshop at a perlite factory in the city of Qingzhou, according to reports. As a result of the explosion, three people outside the workshop were slightly injured.
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The owner of the private factory was taken into custody by the local police. An initial investigation revealed that the accident had been caused by a leak in a liquefied gas tank, according to Xinhua.
Further investigations are underway.
Earlier in March, a deadly blast at a chemical plant in the eastern city of Yancheng killed at least 64 people.