The 2014 Kunshan explosion () was a

dust explosion A dust explosion is the rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air within an enclosed location. Dust explosions can occur where any dispersed powdered combustible material is present in high-enough concentrations in the atmosphere ...

that occurred at Zhongrong Metal Production Company, an automotive parts factory located in

Kunshan Kunshan is a county-level city in southeastern Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu province with Shanghai bordering its eastern border and Suzhou on its western boundary. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Suzhou. Name Th ...

Jiangsu Jiangsu is a coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province in East China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing. Jiangsu is the List of Chinese administra ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, on 2 August 2014. As of December 30, 2014, the explosion killed 146 workers and injured 114 others.

Event

A massive explosion occurred at the factory at 7:37 a.m. At the time, more than 260 people were present, which was more than the usual number of employees working since overtime wages were doubled during the weekends. Forty-four people died at the scene of the explosion, while another 31 died at local hospitals. Five hospitals in Kunshan and nearby

Suzhou Suzhou is a major prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province, China. As part of the Yangtze Delta megalopolis, it is a major economic center and focal point of trade and commerce. Founded in 514 BC, Suzhou rapidly grew in size by the ...

treated over 180 wounded."China car parts plant blast kills 69, hurts 187"
/ref> It is believed the explosion may have been caused by flames igniting metal polishing dust.

References

{{coord missing, Jiangsu Kunshan explosion Kunshan explosion Kunshan explosion Dust explosions Kunshan explosion History of Suzhou Industrial fires and explosions in China Kunshan