Ningxiang explosion
A battery factory in southern China's Hunan Province was rocked by an explosion yesterday evening, according to authorities. One person has died and another 20 have been injured
A massive explosion has torn through a Chinese battery factory, leaving one dead and 20 injured, according to authorities.

Dramatic footage shows the blast sending a giant mushroom cloud into the air yesterday evening in Ningxiang, southern China's Hunan Province.

Six people were seriously wounded while 14 sustained minor injuries, the local government said on Friday. Officials were investigating the cause of the incident.

The explosion occurred in the factory of Brunp Recycling Technology, which is reported to be the biggest company in China to recycle scrapped and old lithium-ion batteries.

explosion
It took place at around 6.12pm on Thursday in one of the factory's old workshops, the Ningxiang government said through its official social media account.

All of the injured were in non-life-threatening condition and hospitalised, and the air quality in areas around the factory was normal, the government said in a post on Friday.

It added that the local officials had arrived at the scene at 'the earliest possible time'.

The regional fire brigade sent 36 fire engines and 288 firefighters to the site, and the fire was under control two hours after the explosion.
Ningxiang
Ningxiang explosion
Brunp Recycling Technology is an affiliation of battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL).

CATL said the accident would have a limited impact on its overall production and operations, according to Shanghai Securities News.

In a statement released on Friday, the company apologised for the adverse impact the incident had brought to society and expressed 'deep regret' over the matter.

It promised to strengthen its security management and 'maintain the bottom line of safe production and operation'.

The Ningxiang government said it was dealing with the aftermath amid an ongoing investigation.