(Videos: Zhang Cheng/People's Daily)

HOHHOT, April 24 (Xinhua) - Three people have been confirmed dead, and five others injured after an explosion occurred in a chemical plant in the city of Ulanqab, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, early Wednesday morning, local authorities said.

The blast happened at 2:55 a.m. in Dongxing Chemical Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Inner Mongolia Yidong Group Corp. Ltd., according to the city authorities.

The injured have been sent to hospital. The local government has mobilized to fight fire and search for survivors.