Fire breaks out at PetroChina plant in Dalian

Fire breaks out in a chemical company in Dalian, Liaoning Province, on August 17, 2017. [Photo: Weibo.com]

A fire broke out Thursday in a chemical plant in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, local authorities said.

The fire broke out at around 6:40 p.m. in a subsidiary of state-owned PetroChina Company Limited, according to the local publicity department. Huge flames and billowing smoke were seen at the spot.

The fire was caused by an improperly sealed pump in the plant, according to the department.

The local government has launched an emergency response, and officials are overseeing rescue work at the site. Hundreds of firefighters are conducting rescue work at the plant.

No casualties have been reported so far.