An explosion and fire at a chemical plant in northern China Wednesday morning left four people dead and 35 others with injuries, Chinese state media reported. People living near the plant were ordered to evacuate. 

The explosion was reported in a workshop at the Dongxing Chemical Co. Ltd. in Ulanqab, a city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, at about 2:55 a.m., according to coverage by Xinhua. Firefighters responded to the site and isolated the flames to a tank located near the blast site. 

Established in 1987, Dongxing Chemical produces a wide range of products, including inorganic pigments, powder polymers, and cellulose ethers, the company’s LinkedIn page said.

Officials told Xinhua that an investigation into the incident has started and that the city’s ecology and environment department is carrying out air and water quality monitoring. 

In March this year, an explosion at a pesticide plant killed 64 people and injured dozens. A few weeks later, another blast at a scrap metal processing plant resulted in 7 deaths. 

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