Two separate chemical explosions rocked Shenzhen and Guangzhou on Monday, killing one person and forcing the evacuation of around 10,000 people, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

The Shenzhen blast, which occurred in Bao'an District at around 6:30 p.m., was caused by a fire in an environmental protection company's waste storehouse. The blaze, triggered by water mixing with magnesium powder stored in the warehouse, caused more than 100 oil drums to explode. Thousands of people within 500 meters of the factory were evacuated to safe places. No one was injured in the explosion.

Witnesses said the fire affected about 200 square meters of the Dongjiang Environmental Protection Co., with flames rising more than 10 meters.

Foam was used to control the blaze to prevent more water from mixing with the magnesium powder. Cement was also taken to the scene to douse the fire which was brought under control by 9 p.m.

In Guangzhou, an explosion occurred in a chemical storehouse at 5:25 p.m. in the city's Huangpu District. The explosion happened as five porters unloaded plastic drums containing sodium chlorite from a truck. A porter's body was found at the scene Monday evening.

Editor: Yan