The death toll from the deadly explosion at a metal factory in east China's Jiangsu Province rose to 71 today as doctors battled to save the lives of 187 injured workers.
Initial investigations indicated that sparks had ignited dust yesterday at the car wheel polishing plant in Kunshan, 50km west of Shanghai, sate-run CCTV said.
The blast destroyed the roof of the sprawling factory which supplied materials to General Motors and was owned by the Taiwanese company Zhongrong Plating.
Many of the injured suffered from 90 per cent burns and medical specialists were brought from different parts of the country to treat the injured, CCTV quoted doctors as saying.
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang called for "all efforts" to be made in the rescue and treatment of the victims.
Relevant authorities were urged to strengthen workplace safety standards.
Zhongrong Plating employs 450 workers and counts General Motors and other US firms among its clients.
More than 200 employees were working overtime when the blast happened, Kunshan authorities said.
Police had detained five company executives, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
