A chemical factory catching fire unleashed a mushroom-shaped fireball visible in the sky in northwestern China.

The dramatic video was filmed in Yinchuan City in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on January 31.

The Ningdong Energy Chemical Base Management Committee of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region released a statement on February 1, revealing that a hazardous chemical production facility experienced a detonation incident at 21:02 on January 31, resulting in two patrol personnel sustaining minor injuries.

Following the incident, the committee promptly organised on-site emergency response efforts, bringing the blaze under control within 14 minutes.

The injured individuals are in stable condition, and the risk of secondary disasters has been eliminated.

The event occurred in the finished product tank area of the enterprise, specifically in a 100-cubic-metre storage tank containing anthracene oil.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the cause of the incident may be a rupture in the steam coil inside the tank, leading to a sudden boiling of water vapour, overpressure, and subsequent rupture of the tank's west side, triggering a flash explosion and fire.

The exact cause is still pending further confirmation. The video was provided by local media with permission.

1月31日，宁夏银川市，宁东能源化工基地一工厂起火，空中可见蘑菇云状火球。
2月1日，宁夏回族自治区宁东能源化工基地管理委员会发布公告称：
2024年1月31日21时02分，宁东基地一危险化学品生产企业发生爆燃事件，造成2名巡检人员受轻伤。事件发生后，宁东基地管委会及时组织了现场应急救援处置，14分钟火情解除，现受伤人员生命体征平稳，已排除次生灾害风险。此次事件发生部位为企业成品罐区蒽油储油槽，该储罐容积100立方米，储存介质为蒽油，初步判断事件原因为罐内蒸汽盘管破裂，导致罐内大量水蒸汽突沸，超压撕裂罐顶西侧后随即发生闪爆、起火，具体原因仍待进一步确认。