A Chinese-operated cement plant in northern Laos caused the death of at least one person and injuries to 20 others when it started blasting operations at a quarry in Luang Prabang province, northern Laos on Saturday.

Houses and vehicles further away in Phonemany village, Nam Bak district, were also wrecked by the blast. Reasons for the extra ferocity of the blast have not yet been identified. Khammany Inthirah, Minister of Energy and Mines said, "Now we do not have the answers. We  might have more details in the evening."

Luang Prabang Cement operates a 0.32Mta cement plant in Ban Hua Na, Luang Prabang, and Luangprabang Conch Cement is currently constructing a 1.5Mta cement plant in Luang Prabang province.