China: Indian oil tanker explodes, 7 Chinese killed

At least seven Chinese nationals were killed when an oil tanker belonging to an Indian company exploded after catching fire in east China’s Zhejiang province on Tuesday.

At least seven Chinese nationals were killed when an oil tanker belonging to an Indian company exploded after catching fire in east China’s Zhejiang province on Tuesday.

The India oil tanker was under repair at the Haizhou shipyard in Daishan county in the city of Zhoushan, a spokesperson with provincial work safety supervision bureau told state media.

According to the state media, there was no report of an oil spill.

The incident is said to have occurred around 7.20 am.

The tanker, which had an oil load capacity of 50,000 tonnes, was unloaded when the explosion occurred and smoke was detected, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, it said. State-run China Central Television said an open flame triggered the blast but did not provide further details.

Official sources in Beijing said the Indian consulate in Shanghai was waiting for more details from Chinese authorities.