Around 11:57 on May 27th, an explosion occurred in Workshop 1 of Youdao Chemical Co., Ltd. in Gaomi, Shandong. According to the situation report released by the Gaomi Emergency Management Bureau, all levels of organizations are making every effort to search and rescue after the accident. The local fire rescue team has dispatched 55 vehicles and 232 personnel to the scene. As of 19:25, the accident has resulted in 5 deaths, 6 people missing, and 19 minor injuries.
Footage shows that the explosion generated a massive shockwave, causing windows and glass in nearby shops to shatter extensively, yellow thick smoke rising to hundreds of meters high, and a pipeline leak with unknown gases. An online user shared photos from their home after the explosion at Gaomi Youdao Chemical Plant, showing all the glass shattered and even the window frames deformed. Some nearby cars had their front windshields completely peeled off.
Public information shows that Youdao Chemical was established in August 2019 and is a controlled subsidiary of Haomai Group Co., Ltd. The company focuses on highly efficient, low-toxicity pesticides and their intermediates, with main products including chlorfenapyr raw drug and intermediates. Its second-phase plant for 10,000 tons of chlorfenapyr raw drug has been successfully put into production, and the total annual capacity of chlorfenapyr raw drug is 11,000 tons, making it the world’s largest producer in this field.
The explosion involved six workshops, and judging by the range and extent of damage from the shockwave, it is unlikely that any workers present at the scene survived. Although it was nighttime, the factory operates almost 12-hour shifts with two shifts per day. Workers in the production workshops are certainly more than the five reported deaths; it is likely that the incident was deliberately concealed to avoid responsibility for major safety accidents. Direct interviews with relatives of factory workers reveal that there were 80 personnel on duty, and “many people are presumed dead, with 90% seriously injured, most survivors are severely injured.”
My sister-in-law said that there were about a dozen people in the production workshops, and all workshops exploded simultaneously, making it very unlikely for anyone inside to survive. Many were seriously burned, and ambulances couldn’t keep up, with patients being transported to several hospitals. “And the neighboring chemical factory also exploded, caused by the explosion here shaking over there.”
Based on the explosion scene analysis, I used ChatGPT to analyze that it was very likely caused by pipeline gas leaks coming into contact with open flames or high temperatures, leading to an explosion. This factory indeed had safety hazards, and workers had reported issues, but rectification required funding. Capitalists, driven by profit, are unwilling to spend more on updating fixed assets. Even when faced with two government mandates for mandatory rectification, they remained indifferent, even paying bribes and colluding. After the incident, factories two or three kilometers away continued to operate normally, ignoring the toxic gases in the environment, revealing the heinous nature of these profit-driven capitalists. Capitalism is our disaster!
Risk information shows that the company was previously sued over disputes related to labor victim responsibilities. The pesticides produced by the company may contain toxic components. In August 2023, Youdao Chemical was inspected by the Weifang Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, which found issues and issued administrative guidance, requiring rectification. In February 2024, during supervision and inspection, Youdao Chemical was listed as a key rectification target due to significant safety hazards identified earlier, requiring further corrective measures.
According to the official website, Youdao Chemical Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Haomai Group, established in August 2019, with Zhang Bensong as legal representative, registered capital of 1 billion yuan, located in Renzhen Chemical Park, Gaomi, Weifang, Shandong Province, covering over 700 acres. The company focuses on developing and producing highly efficient, low-toxicity pesticides and their intermediates, mainly producing chlorfenapyr raw drug for use in rice, fruit trees, vegetables, and other crops. As of May 2025, the company has over 300 employees, including 81 dedicated R&D personnel, of whom 54 hold master’s degrees or higher.