A massive industrial explosion has rocked Inner Mongolia, tearing through the Baogang United Steel plant—one of China’s largest state-owned enterprises—killing at least two workers and injuring 84 others.

The blast, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, sent a mushroom cloud of smoke into the sky and shattered windows in nearby residential blocks. "It felt like an earthquake," residents posted on Weibo. The incident once again spotlights the safety record of China’s colossal industrial engine.

The Global Supply Chain

While the human toll is the immediate tragedy, the blast at such a critical facility sends jitters through the global steel market. Baogang is a key supplier of rare earth metals and steel products. Any prolonged shutdown could ripple through supply chains, affecting prices of construction materials in markets as far away as Kenya, which relies heavily on Chinese steel imports.

• Safety Struggles: Despite Beijing’s crackdown, industrial accidents remain common as factories push for maximum output. The ghost of the 2015 Tianjin port explosion still looms large.
• The Investigation: State media reports that authorities have detained plant managers as an investigation begins. In China’s top-down system, accountability is often swift and severe.

As rescue teams search for the missing, the Baogang blast serves as a reminder of the volatile cost of industrialization.