The death toll has risen to 23 in an explosion involving a truck transporting hazardous chemicals near a Hebei Shenghua Chemical Industry Co. PVC factory in China's Hebei province, according to Chinese media.
The Nov. 28 explosion outside the factory complex in the city of Zhangjiakou ripped through 38 trucks and 12 cars parked nearby, injuring more than 20 others, according to the China Daily newspaper.
While initial reports pointed to the truck as being headed to the Shenghua facility, which according to the company website makes PVC as one of its main products, subsequent reports in Chinese media said the truck was trying to deliver chemicals to a different factory.
The truck was trying to enter the Haipo'er New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. facility next to the Shenghua complex, according to the China Daily. The paper said the truck was trying to deliver acetylene.
About 100 trucks were reportedly lined up waiting to deliver goods to the chemical factories in the area when the explosion occurred at 12:41 a.m. Many drivers were sleeping in their trucks when the explosion ignited the other trucks and cars, China Daily said.