Fatal blast caused by illegal production

An explosion that killed seven people and left one injured on Jan 20 in Juancheng county, Shandong province, was caused by the illegal production of 3-chloropropyne, a chemical compound that can pose significant risks due to its explosive nature, according to an investigation report on the explosion released on Friday.

The accident took place at an abandoned factory in the town of Danian, the Shandong Provincial Emergency Management Department said.

Workers triggered the explosion by using a high-current welding machine to cut a steel bracket above an industrial-sized distillation kettle, generating high-temperature welding slag that ignited the 3-chloropropyne in the kettle.