The local government reports the death toll in an explosion at a chemical plant in eastern China has risen to 44, with another 90 people seriously injured.

Thursday's blast at the Tianjiayi Chemical plant in the city of Yancheng is China's worst industrial accident in years, with nearly 1,000 area residents moved to safety as of Friday as a precaution against leaks and additional explosions.

Windows in buildings as far as about 3 miles were blown out by the force of the blast.

The Yancheng city government said on its official microblog that 3,500 medical workers at 16 hospitals had been mobilized to treat the injured.

China has long struggled with industrial safety. A 2015 explosion at a chemical warehouse in the city of Tianjin killed 173 people.