Blast in Chinese Car Parts Factory Kills 65 and Injures 100

An explosion at a Chinese automotive parts factory killed 65 and injured more than 100 on Saturday, reports the state Xinhua News Agency. The factory supplies automotive parts to most international car makers.

The explosion occurred Saturday morning around 7:37 am inside a wheel hub polishing workshop owned by the Kunshan Zhongrong Metal Products Co Ltd. More than 200 laborers were at the factory when the blast occurred.

The factory is located in the industrial zone near Shanghai in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Fire fighters reached the location and rescue processes are underway .The team pulled out more than 40 bodies and more than 120 people are injured with burns. The survivors are admitted in hospitals in Kunshan and the nearby city of Suzhou.

Authorities have taken five company executives in for investigation, reports the Associated press.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the blast may have been caused due to combustible dust, Ministry of Public Security said via its official weibo microblog site.

The blast blew two big holes in the factory walls and sent glass and debris flying, reports Xinhua. Photos on China's social media sites show twisted metals and glass strewn inside the factory with a collapsed ceiling, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The plant is a subcontractor to one of the world's biggest car wheel makers. In a statement, GM confirmed that Zhongrong is part of its network of suppliers.

"We can confirm Zhongrong is a supplier to GM's global supplier Dicastal," GM said, reports the Associated Press.

 Workplace safety is a major issue in factories of China. Combustible dust is a major fire and explosive hazard in under ventilated spaces.