A chemical plant blast injured 12 workers in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on Wednesday, a local official said.

An injured worker is sent to a local hospital to receive treatment on Wednesday, November 8, 2006. A chemical plant blast injured 12 workers in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

A furnace of calcium carbide, a grayish-black crystalline compound, exploded at 10:50 AM at the Ningxia Zhongda Chemical and Industrial Co. Ltd. located at the Yingshui Township of Zhongwei City, said Yang Wendong, deputy director of the regional work safety administration.

Twelve workers suffered burns and have been hospitalized, Yang said.

According to him, ten of the injured people are seriously injured. Three of the workers have suffered burns to 95 percent of their bodies as their conditions are described as "very serious".

Most of the injured workers are local farmers, a victim's relative at the hospital affiliated with the Ningxia Medical College said.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)