At least eight people were killed, three injured and one is still missing in an explosion that ripped through a chemical plant in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The blast occurred at about 9:30 AM when the Hudai plant was experimenting with a new ingredient for pesticide reportedly without the necessary safety evaluations from local departments.

Investigations are underway.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2005)