One person died and two others were missing after an oil tanker exploded on Sunday in east China's Shandong Province.

The accident happened at about 2:30 p.m. after the "Hai'ao No. 9" tanker exploded in Guangli Port, Dongying City, a municipal government official said.

There were four sailors on board at the time, and three were replacing valves on the deck.

Investigators speculated that the explosion was caused by the sailors cutting metal and replacing valves.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2009)