Briefly

Illegal production caused factory blast

Illegal production led to an explosion at a biotechnology company in Xiangcheng, Henan province, that killed six people and injured three on March 20, authorities said on Wednesday. The blast at Sandeli Biotechnology in Xiangcheng occurred when excessive temperatures during the distillation process in a reaction vessel caused compounds to decompose and explode, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. A preliminary investigation found that the company had subleased its factory building from another business and was operating unlawfully.

More relief offered for workplace hazards