Environmental monitoring and early warning systems also should be strengthened to prevent pollution as well as secondary disasters, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

He urged authorities to find the cause of the explosion as soon as possible, and called for the timely release of information.

Given that a series of major accidents have happened in different places recently, Xi asked local governments and authorities to learn hard lessons, intensify safety checks and strictly implement liability systems for safe production in order to prevent such incidents and protect people's lives and property.

Premier Li Keqiang on Friday demanded scientific and effective rescue and relief efforts to minimize casualties. Strong measures must be taken to prevent any possible subsequent disasters, he said. The Ministry of Emergency Management should push local authorities to conduct a thorough inspection of some high-risk sectors such as industries that handle dangerous and chemical substances, the premier added.