Death toll rises to 22 in China's power plant blast

Beijing: The death toll in the power plant explosion in central China's Hubei Province has risen to 22, the government said today.

The blast occurred at Madian Gangue Power Generation Co Ltd in Dangyang City on Thursday, China's State Administration of Work Safety said.

Preliminary probes showed it was caused by a broken high-pressure steam pipe when workers were testing thermo-power facilities.

The plant and neighbouring companies have been closed and a work safety overhaul has been launched in the city, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The administration has sent a work group to oversee the operation and conduct an investigation.