In the aftermath of Thursday’s massive explosion at a chemical factory in Jiangsu province, locals in the nearby city of Yancheng have been queuing up to donate their blood.
At one location, people stood in line well past midnight to donate their blood with more than 200 answering the call following one of China’s worst industrial incidents in recent memories.
The blood is badly needed as more than 640 people have been to sent to the hospital in the wake of the blast, including at least 90 who are in serious condition. The explosion has already claimed 47 lives.
While the exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, it is reported to have followed a fire at the facility and to have involved the chemical compound benzene. The factory was engaged in producing fertilizer.
The blast largely wiped out the factory itself while also causing many nearby buildings to collapse, trapping workers underneath the rubble.
[Images via NetEase]