Death toll in a chemical plant blast in east China's Anhui Province has risen to 14 Saturday afternoon, with another 30 people injured, a provincial work safety official confirmed.

The blast occurred at 3:09 PM Friday at a workshop of Dun'an chemical group Co., Ltd in Dangtu County. It is not yet clear about the exact number of workers in the plant when the explosion occurred.

An initial investigation found that the plant produces explosives for such civilian uses as mining. The blast was ignited in the emulsification process of the powder.

The two-story workshop complex has been razed to the ground. Rescuers said that the rescue work is difficult, since there are combustible materials in the plant, which might lead to further blasts.

The blast site has been cordoned off. Rescuers are showering water to cool down temperature in the blast site, while carrying out the rescue.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2006)