On May 27th at noon, an explosion occurred at the “Shandong Youdao Chemical Co., Ltd.” factory in Gaomi City, Weifang City, Shandong Province. Accompanied by the sound of the explosion, a black mushroom cloud rose into the sky, and windows several kilometers away were shattered. Officials stated that the accident resulted in 5 deaths, 6 missing persons, and 19 slight injuries. The company involved had been required to make improvements for two consecutive years due to major accident risks, leading the public to question the ineffective government oversight and its undeniable responsibility.
Residents of Gaomi, like Liu Yuan (pseudonym), shared with Dajiyuan that their home is located about four to five kilometers south of the chemical factory. When the explosion happened, they were having a meal at home and only heard a loud bang. The black smoke and toxic gas blew northward, causing residents in the northern areas to fear and wear masks. “The police at several intersections did not allow people to pass through, the roads were blocked, and it was estimated that it would take a considerable amount of time to clear the blockage,” said Liu Yuan.
According to the official website of Youdao Chemical, it is a subsidiary of Haomai Group, established in August 2019 with a registered capital of 1 billion yuan. The company is located in the Renhe Chemical Industrial Park in Gaomi, Weifang City, Shandong Province, covering an area of over 700 acres. The company focuses on the development and production of efficient and low-toxic agricultural pesticides and their specialized intermediates, with its main product being chlorfenapyr. This pesticide is used for the prevention and control of crops such as rice, fruit trees, and vegetables. As of May 2025, the company employed over 300 people, including 81 research and development professionals, of which 54 held a master’s degree or above.
It is understood that the efficient and low-toxic agricultural pesticides produced by the company may contain toxic components. In 2023, Youdao Chemical was requested by regulatory authorities to rectify safety production issues, as seen through Tianyancha data.
In February 2024, during a supervisory inspection by regulatory authorities, Youdao Chemical was flagged as a key target for rectification, citing significant hidden dangers in the company’s previous operations that needed to be addressed. The public questioned why an explosion occurred despite two consecutive years of rectification, demanding the release of the rectification records and accountability.
A Shandong resident, Ms. Lan, told Dajiyuan, “The safety awareness of mainland Chinese companies may be weak. Many years of regulatory oversight have been in place, but what kind of consensus has been reached between the regulators and the companies under oversight is unknown.” She emphasized that industrial areas such as textile factories and chemical plants should be subject to stricter supervision on safety according to regulations, highlighting the undeniable responsibility of regulatory authorities.
“In addition to poor safety awareness within the company, coupled with unfavorable environmental conditions, there may also be issues such as aging infrastructure and lack of timely updates,” Ms. Lan added. “The current figures of casualties may not necessarily be accurate; there could be underreporting. Looking at the explosion site, the area affected by the explosion, including the dense smoke, the reported death toll of 5 may likely not be the true extent of the situation,” she said.
Another Shandong resident, Mr. Long, expressed to Dajiyuan, “The people of China have lost confidence in the government. Because in a situation of power chaos, there is no supervision. The current Communist Party rule is arbitrary, with local officials acting recklessly and irresponsibly. They have no sense of duty, much like the late Qing Dynasty, waiting for collapse.”
In summary, the article reports on a tragic explosion at a chemical factory in Shandong Province, highlighting the inadequate safety measures and regulatory oversight that may have contributed to the incident. The public’s concerns about transparency, accountability, and government responsibility in ensuring industrial safety are spotlighted amid the aftermath of the accident.