State Council orders nationwide inspection as chemical plant deaths rise to 78

So far:

-- Death toll has risen to 78 (as of Monday afternoon)

-- 566 people still in hospital, including 13 in critical condition and 66 seriously injured (as of 12 pm, Monday)

-- Medical monitoring at hospitals shows no cases of chemical poisoning

-- State Council orders nationwide inspection of chemical industries

-- School resumes today

-- Teams look for possible toxic substance leaks

An additional 14 people were found dead in the latest search and rescue operation after an explosion in East China's Jiangsu province, bringing the death toll to 78, local authorities said on Monday afternoon.

A total of 56 dead have been identified, local authorities said at a news conference, leaving 22 unaccounted for.

Among the 28 missing, 25 have been confirmed to be dead via DNA, with three confirmed safe.

A total of 566 injured people were still receiving medical care in the hospital on Monday, including 13 in critical condition and 66 seriously wounded. Thirty-eight were discharged on Monday, according to the news conference.

Medical monitoring at hospitals near the blast site shows no cases of chemical poisoning, the rescue headquarters said on Monday.

In a notice released on Monday, the State Council has ordered a national inspection on potential hazards of dangerous chemicals and safety assessments on all chemical industry parks across the country.

Schools and kindergartens reopened on Monday after the explosion forced their closure on Friday. Read more

At the same time, rescuers were busy scrutinizing the chemical plants that were damaged in the blast in Xiangshui county of Yancheng city for possible toxic substance leaks.

The blast occurred on Thursday at the Tianjiayi chemical plant in Xiangshui county's Chenjiagang Chemical Park, with a fire that spread to 16 enterprises nearby.