The death toll in China's deadly chemical plant explosion on Wednesday has risen to eight after authorities pulled out the last remaining body as 5 pm on Saturday.

The explosion, which occurred inside Shuangma Chemical Plant in Rugao City in east China's Jiangsu Province, also injured nine workers.

Like Us on Facebook

Seven people were immediately confirmed dead following the explosion on Wednesday but authorities launched a search and retrieval operation that lasted three days just to find the body of the missing worker.

The cause of the explosion has not been established as of yet as investigators were still gathering information and statement from workers and witnesses.

The Shuangma Chemical Plant, built in 1997, produces palm oil. The explosion in the plant did not cause severe water or air pollution, the Jiangsu environmental protection authorities said.

Last month, one person was killed in a factory blast in Tangshan, Hebei province.  The blast occurred in a chemical plant of the Kailuan Group Co, which produces waterproof mining explosives.

There were 13 persons working in the plant when the blast took place. Rescuers, however, managed to pull out the other workers from the collapsed mine. The explosion also damaged the workshops located about 500 meters away.

The cause of the explosion was still under investigation, authorities said.

Factory explosion in China is common despite government efforts to promote occupational safety.

In November of last year, 35 workers were dead and another 166 were injured after a massive explosion that ripped through an industrial area in Quingdao. The explosion occurred near the Lidong Chemical Plant.

The accident happened as workers were repairing a petroleum pipeline. The oil pipeline, however, ruptured and caused an oil spill that resulted to a fire, which was followed by an explosion.