At least 9 people have been killed by an explosion at a chemical plant in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Wednesday night's blast took place in the town of Daqing. The explosion went off at 10:10 PM, in a three-level building at the Fuxing Chemical Plant. An intense blaze broke out shortly afterward. Fourteen people were inside at the time. Nine died on the scene, while the other five managed to escape.

The cause of the blast remains unknown, but investigation and search efforts are underway.