China Probing Blast at Apple Supplier Factory

Authorities are investigating the cause of an explosion over the weekend that injured dozens of people at the Shanghai factory of a supplier to Apple.

The government formed an investigation group and ordered safety checks at the Riteng Computer Accessory Co. factory, a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple supplier Pegatron Corp., said Gan Shanjun, an official in the information office in Shanghai’s Songjiang district. Critics have taken Apple to task for alleged violations of labor and environmental standards by its China-based suppliers, and the company has said it is working to resolve such problems. Local media reported that 61 people were hurt by the blast and more than 20 of them hospitalized, but none suffered life-threatening injuries. “Our hearts go out to the people who were hurt in Songjiang. We are working closely with Pegatron to understand the cause of this accident,” said Carolyn Wu, a spokeswoman for Apple in China.