Explosion at Foxconn Plant Kills 2, Injures Several Others

A large explosion blasted parts of Foxconn's Chengdu manufacturing plant in southwestern China earlier today, leaving behind 2 dead and at least 14 more injured. According to reports, scores of fire engines, ambulances, and police cars rushed to the scene. The cause of the explosion, is still being investigated, but as of this moment, no one suspects foul play. One report says it may have been caused by lightning.

A distant secondary concern to the loss of life and injuries and is what effect this might have on production of Apple's iPad 2 tablet. Production at the site has been suspended while the tragedy is being sorted out.

"Anytime you have an explosion of this nature, you've got to assume that there's some impact on the production line," said Rhoda Alexander, an analyst for IHS iSuppli.


In this case, Apple is already struggling to keep with demand for the iPad 2, which was showing a shipping delay of one to two weeks on Apple's website before the explosion occurred.

Needless to say, our thoughts go out to the victims and our best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who survived but were injured.