The death toll from a chemical plant blast in east China's Jiangsu Province had risen to 22, with 28 others injured, according to local authorities on Saturday.

The blast, which took place at 8:45 AM Friday at the Fuyuan Chemical Plant, a Sino-German joint venture in Linhai Township of Sheyang County, toppled the workshop. The plant produces Dichloro Fluoro Benzene for industry.

The 28 people who were injured in the blast has been hurried to hospital.

More than 7,000 local residents who were evacuated from the blast site have returned to their homes as local environmental protection authorities said by Friday night, the toxic gas, chlorine, from the blast had dispersed and had little influence in the air.

Qiu He, vice governor of Jiangsu Province, rushed to the plant to supervise rescue work.

Preliminary investigation showed improper operation by workers was mainly to blame for the accident.

Government of the Sheyang County has ordered all chemical industries suspend production for check-up.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2006)