Smoke rises from a burnt-out truck at the site of an early Wednesday blast that killed 23 people and left 22 injured. Photo: Caixin

Thirty-eight trucks and 12 cars were damaged in the explosion, which took place next to a Hebei chemical plant. Photo: Caixin

Burnt-out vehicles line the blast site in the Qiaodong district of Zhangjiakou city. Photo: Caixin

Workers clear up the wreckage. Photo: Caixin

A crane lifts a damaged vehicle from the site of the explosion. Photo: Caixin

The remains of the gate of Hebei Shenghua Chemical plant, next to where the explosion took place. Photo: Caixin

The charred shell of a security guard post at the chemical plant. Photo: Caixin

Turnstiles at the entrance of the plant were burned and blackened. Photo: Caixin

Smoke rises from the blast site. Photo: Caixin

A charred shoe and a clump of hair are pictured near the site of the chemical plant explosion. Photo: Caixin