Powerful Blast Rocks China's Plastics Factory Killing 5

A powerful blast caused by a suspected gas leak rocked a plastics factory in eastern China on Wednesday, killing at least five people and seriously injuring 28.

Photo: Powerful Blast Rocks China's Plastics Factory Killing 5

The explosion happened about 10 a.m. in downtown Nanjing, the capital of' Jiangsu province in eastern China.

"Preliminarily findings confirmed five people were killed on the spot and 28 were seriously injured," said a statement released by the Nanjing government, according to The Associated Press.

Xinhua reported that the blast also hit a passenger bus injuring many people inside the vehicle.

Other Chinese media sources estimate the number of injured people at some 300 with many of them in critical condition in hospitals.

Firefighters are still combating the fire at the plant and the final number of casualties will be established later, RIA Novosti Russia news agency says.