Chemical factory fire kills three

An explosion at a chemical factory in the American state of Michigan has killed three people and injured at least nine others.

A Fire Department spokesman Kenneth Williamson said the explosion at Riverview, near the city of Detroit, happened when a railway wagon parked inside the factory building for unloading began to leak a highly toxic chemical methyl mercaptan.

The blast sparked off a fire which is now under control.

The victims, who were employees of the firm, apparently died from inhalation of toxic fumes.

Hundreds of homes in the area were evacuated until the air had cleared.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service