By Cai Siyun
According to Chinese authorities a factory explosion in Shuozhou, Shanxi province, killed five people in the early hours of Feb. 7. Residents living nearby said the blast was powerful enough to shatter windows, and flames could be seen rising from the site.
The company involved, Jiapeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd., had been established only six months earlier. The incident occurred just days ahead of the Lunar New Year.
A senior official at Shanyin County Hospital told reporters that medical staff and ambulances were dispatched immediately to assist with rescue efforts.
A reporter later contacted the Shanyin County Emergency Management Department. A staff member confirmed that the explosion occurred early that morning and said rescue operations were still underway at the time. The official added that casualty figures and the cause of the incident were still being verified and that further information would be released through authorized channels.
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At noon on Feb. 7, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state broadcaster CCTV issued an official report. According to CCTV, the explosion occurred in a workshop at Jiapeng Biotechnology in Shanyin County earlier that morning. After intensive search and rescue operations, all five trapped individuals were located by 10:38 a.m. and were found to show no signs of life. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the explosion, while follow-up response measures are being carried out simultaneously.
‘You could see a mushroom cloud’
A nearby resident, surnamed Zhang, said the explosion occurred late at night while he was asleep. The sudden loud noise made him believe an earthquake had struck. After quickly getting dressed and going outside, he saw a nearby factory engulfed in flames.
Zhang said the blast shattered the glass windows of his home. He later heard the continuous sound of ambulance sirens.
Residents across Shanxi province shared their experiences on social media. One wrote: “Around midnight there was a huge boom. I thought a missile had been launched. When I went outside, flames were shooting into the sky with white smoke.”
Another said: “I thought someone was setting off fireworks. I was lying in my dorm bed and felt a strong jolt.” A third wrote: “Just after midnight, doors ten kilometers away were blown open. From upstairs you could see a mushroom cloud.”
Some users expressed sympathy for the victims’ families. “It’s almost the New Year, and this happens. How are these five families supposed to cope?” one comment read. Others called for earlier holiday shutdowns. “These accidents always happen around the New Year. Some factories rush production before the holidays. Mandatory shutdowns should start earlier,” another user wrote.
Other commenters questioned the nature of the company’s operations. “Who knows what kind of ‘biotechnology’ this really is?” one post asked. “Illegal production hidden in the mountains,” another wrote. Some suggested that chemical plants often rebrand themselves as “biotechnology” or “new materials” companies to appear more advanced and legitimate. Others called for a comprehensive investigation, noting that five fatalities already constitute a major industrial accident and raising concerns over possible illegal operations or irregular approval processes.
Public records show that Jiapeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was established on June 26, 2025. Its registered address is located 500 meters south of Shijiatun Village in Yujing Town, Shanyin County, Shuozhou. The company’s legal representative is Ning Jianwei, and its registered capital is 5 million yuan (approximately USD 700,000). Its business scope includes biological feed research and development, coal and coal products sales, building materials sales, as well as the manufacturing and sale of coatings.