An explosion at a steel plant in Baotou, China, killed two, injured 66, and left five missing on January 18, 2026.

An explosion at a Baogang United Steel plate plant in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, killed two people, injured 66, and left five missing on January 18, 2026, around 3 p.m. time zone. Emergency response teams were called in as a result of the blast's tremors, structural damage, and dense smoke. Three of the wounded are in critical condition. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the cause is still being looked into. Concerns regarding industrial safety in China have been rekindled by the incident.