Death toll in China chemical plant blast rises to 12

The blaze "has been controlled" by firefighters hours after Thursday's blast left an industrial park burning into the night in Yancheng in Jiangsu province, according to broadcaster CCTV.

As of the early hours of Friday, a total of 88 people were "rescued" from the area, including 12 who died in the disaster, CCTV said.

Dozens of people were injured in the explosion, the latest incident to put a spotlight on China's chequered industrial safety record.

The explosion -- so powerful that it apparently triggered a small 2.2-magnitude earthquake -- knocked down factory buildings and shattered the windows of surrounding homes and a school, according to images seen on local media.