Factory explosion kills 13 in China

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: Thirteen people have been confirmed dead and 43 injured after a chemical plant exploded on Tuesday morning in northern China's Hebei province, state media Xinhua reported.

China's CCTV aired footage of the aftermath of the explosion, which happened at a pesticide factory owned by Hebei Keeperchemical Industries.

Local authorities said that the blast, which took place at around 9.30 a.m. local time, was felt in at least three neighboring villages, Xinhua reported.

A deputy chief of the local public security bureau said there was no risk of contamination from the blast at the plant, which manufactures pesticides, but villagers said the products of the factory were highly toxic, Xinhua said.

The injured victims, most of whom were middle-aged men employed by the factory, were taken to the hospital for treatment, the deputy chief said.

Another factory belonging to Hebei Keeperchemical caught fire last year but had left no casualties, according local authorities.