Thirty-eight people were killed and two injured on Monday evening in a fire at a plant in central China. The fire took place in Henan province at a factory dealing in chemicals and industrial goods.

Local authorities said the police arrested some people in connection with the fire but did not give more details.

Chinese media reported that more than 200 rescue workers and 60 firefighters were pressed into service to control the blaze.

Industrial accidents are common in China – also known as the factory of the world due to its large manufacturing base. Industrial accidents happen due to corruption among officials and because of weak safety standards.

In October 2021 four people were killed and 47 injured in an explosion at a restaurant in the north-eastern city of Shenyang.

Similarly, in March 2019 an explosion at a chemical factory in Yancheng killed 78 people and injured over 600.

In 2015, 165 people were killed in a major explosion at a chemical warehouse in Tianjin.