Aerial photo taken on March 21, 2019 shows the scene of an industrial park after an explosion in the city of Yancheng, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

UNITED NATIONS, March 22 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply saddened" to learn about the loss of life and injuries caused by the explosion at a chemical plant in Yancheng , Jiangsu Province of China, his deputy spokesman said Friday.

"He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the secretary-general, said in a statement.

"The secretary-general expresses his heartfelt sympathies to the people and Government of China," he added.

Thursday's explosion reportedly killed at least 47 people and injured hundreds of others, 90 of them seriously.