At least three people were killed in an explosion accident Wednesday morning at a chemical plant in Baiyin city, in northwest China's Gansu Province, local work safety supervision authorities confirmed in the noon.

The accident occurred at around 9:00 AM on Wednesday at an explosives storage facility owned by the China Gansu Yinguang Chemicals Company, a subsidiary of the China North Industries Group Corp, a leading defense industry company.

The accident killed at least three people, while the number of the injured is still being calculated, the authorities said.

Cause of the accident is being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2006)