A total of eight out of the nine people seriously injured in Wednesday's fatal factory blast in central China's Henan Province are out of critical condition, local health authorities said on Thursday.

"After careful treatment, eight out of the nine who suffered serious bone injuries and burns are out of critical condition in two hospitals in Yanshi," said Guo Zhichao, director of Yanshi City Health Bureau.

Another, who suffered serious burns, was transferred to a hospital in Luoyang City late Wednesday and was under intensive care, said Guo.

Guo said 38 out of 108 slightly injured people had been discharged. The rest of the 108 would recover in about one week, he added.

The blast occurred at Luoran Co. Ltd in Yanshi at 2:00 AM on Wednesday, and killed seven people.

An official said Wednesday a fire in a warehouse had caused the explosion of about 10 tonnes of chlorobenzene, a flammable intermediate for making other chemicals.

Luoran Co. Ltd, which employs 180 people, produces chemicals for the dyeing industry. Its products are also exported to Japan, Britain and several southeast Asian countries.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2009)