Rescuers work at the accident site after an explosion occured at Kaer Chemical Plant in Zhaoxian County, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 28, 2012. At least three people died when the explosion went off at around 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The blast flattened one of the factory's workshops and broke window panes within a radius of 2,000 meters. Tremors were felt in at least three villages near the plant, according to local authorities. (Xinhua)

Nine people were confirmed dead when an explosion went off at a chemical plant in north China's Hebei Province Tuesday morning, police said.

The accident happened at around 9 a.m. at Kaer Chemical Plant in Zhaoxian County, said Cheng Weiqing, vice chief of Shijiazhuang public security bureau.

The blast flattened one of the factory's workshops and broke window panes within a radius of 2,000 meters, Cheng quoted witnesses as saying.

More than forty injured people were hospitalized to receive treatment, according to Cheng. And tremors were felt in at least three villages near the plant, Cheng said.

Mayor of Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, led a team of rescuers to the site.