2 dead, 7 injured in central China blast (3)

WUHAN, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and seven others were injured in a chemical plant explosion in central China's Hubei Province on Wednesday, local authorities said.

The blast occurred around noon at a biochemical plant in the city of Suizhou, according to local firefighting authorities.

One person was killed and a previously reported missing person has been confirmed dead. Both were employees of the plant.

The seven injured people have been receiving treatment in hospital. They include one police officer who participated in the rescue.

Several houses in the plant collapsed after the explosion.

The Suizhou municipal government said data collected by local environmental protection authorities showed the explosion did not affect the city's water and air quality.

Further investigation is under way.

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