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Rescue operations are underway at a petrochemical facility after a fire broke out early Saturday morning (June 18).
Fire crews are tackling a massive fire at a petrochemical plant in Shanghai with the sky lit up by flames following reports of an explosion.
Evacuations have taken place at the facility in the the Jinshan District after a fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning, the fire department reportedly said.
Shanghai Petrochemical Company confirmed that the fire broke out just after 4am local time and that an emergency plan was immediately put into action.
There are several areas of the facility that appear to be on fire while so far there are no reports on injuries.
It is reported that there were several explosions leading to the fires.
Many people have taken to social media to show the flames ripping through the chemical plant in the south west of the city while residents have also said how they felt their homes shake with the force of explosions.
People have been fleeing the area in the chaos caused by the huge blaze leading to traffic congestion.
Shanghai Fire Protection News reportedly stated: "A fire broke out in the ethylene glycol plant of a petrochemical company on Long'an East Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai.
"After receiving the alarm, the Municipal 119 Command Centre quickly dispatched rescue forces such as from Jinshan and Fengxian to the chemical industry zone.
"The crews are currently on the site and tackling the blaze."
With the blaze alight for several hours the sky over Shanghai is now looking black from the smoke clouds, according to social media videos from the city.
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