The death toll from a chemical plant explosion on Friday in Jiangsu Province has risen to 22, with 29 others injured, local government sources announced over the weekend.

Five of the 29 injured are in a serious condition, but they are out of danger, local authorities confirmed.

At around 8:45am on Friday, a chemical reactor exploded during a trial run at the Fuyuan Chemical Co, a Sino-German joint venture in Linhai Township of Sheyang County. The plant, which had not yet begun production, planned to produce fluoro benzene for industrial use.

Local workplace safety officials said 71 people were inside the chemical plant when the accident occurred, and 20 managed to escape.

Special medical teams rushed to the scene to assist the injured.

Drums containing chlorine and nitric acid at the accident site fortunately escaped damage, and tests of the air and water near the plant show that they were not seriously polluted.

More than 7,000 local residents who were evacuated from the blast site have returned to their homes.

Preliminary investigations show improper operation by workers was the main cause of the accident.

Relatives of the 22 people who died will receive at least 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) in compensation for each victim.

Twenty-one out of the 22 bodies were cremated yesterday morning. The other victim's family members are not in Sheyang County where the chemical plant is located, said Han Qinghua, vice secretary-general of the Jiangsu provincial government.

"The accident has had a terrible impact on local people's lives and property. It's shocking," Han said.

Editor: Yan