An explosion has ripped through a chemical plant in south-eastern China's Fujian province, sparking a major fire.

Photos taken on April 7, 2015 shows the scene of a chemical plant blast in Zhangzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Six people were injured in the plant blast that occurred at 6:56 p.m. (1056 GMT) Monday. This is the second accident in 20 months at the same facility that produces paraxylene (PX). (Xinhua)

The blast occurred on Monday evening at the plant in Zhangzhou. State news agency Xinhua reported three injuries.

The plant produces paraxylene (PX), a flammable chemical used in polyester and plastics manufacturing.

Construction of PX plants in China has sparked protests from residents, including violent demonstrations last year in Guangdong province.

Many residents fear pollution from the plants is hazardous to health.

Focus of protests

The South China Morning Post reported that this was the second blast at the plant in two years.

The plant in Zhangzhou is operated by Dragon Aromatics, one of the largest independent PX producers in China. It has not yet commented.

China Central Television (CCTV) carried footage of the fire, with flames shooting into the air, but provided few details.

Xinhua said the blast occurred at about 19:00 local time (11:00 GMT) in a pumping station.

The Zhangzhou fire department said about 430 fire-fighters were at the scene.

Windows at a petrol station 1km (0.6 miles) from the plant were blown out, Xinhua said.

The Post quoted one resident who lives across the harbour from the plant, about 10km (six miles) away, who said his flat shook with the explosion.

Lin Chen told the paper: "I heard a loud bang at home. Everyone in my county saw it. The plant was burning. We can still see it. But I don't smell anything weird now. I think it's because we're upwind."

Protests remain rare in China, where it is illegal to demonstrate without a permit, but environmental campaigns are growing in number.

In recent years paraxylene has become a focus of such protests, forcing the delay or cancellation of plants, much to the dismay of the national government, correspondents say.

A protest about a PX plant in Maoming, in southern Guangdong province, turned violent last April, with tear gas fired and several demonstrators injured.

BBC/Xinhua