A catastrophic industrial explosion has rocked Baotou City in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, resulting in multiple casualties and triggering a massive emergency response. The incident occurred at 3:03 PM local time on Sunday at a plate manufacturing facility operated by Baogang United Steel, one of the region’s major industrial enterprises.
According to official statements from Baotou executive vice mayor Lin Li, the disaster originated from the sudden detonation of a 650-cubic-meter saturated water and steam spherical tank. The explosion’s force caused significant damage to the facility and resulted in substantial human casualties.
The current casualty figures indicate two confirmed fatalities, with eight individuals remaining unaccounted for. Medical facilities across the region are treating 84 injured personnel, including five patients in critical condition. The majority of injuries consist of facial wounds and soft tissue contusions, with all affected individuals reported to be in stable condition under the care of leading medical specialists.
Emergency response teams have established a comprehensive rescue headquarters to coordinate multi-departmental efforts involving fire control, public security, health services, and market supervision authorities. The local government has implemented immediate safety measures, including the suspension of operations at the affected plant and initiating a city-wide safety inspection across all industrial and trade enterprises.
Environmental monitoring agencies have conducted preliminary assessments indicating no adverse effects on surrounding air quality, soil conditions, or water systems. Utility services and residential heating in adjacent areas continue to operate normally without disruption.
Regional authorities have formed a specialized investigation team to determine the precise cause of the accident and assess potential liabilities. Legal proceedings have been initiated against responsible parties within the enterprise management structure.