A gas pipe explosion at a steel factory in the city of Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, has killed two people and injured eight others, the provincial emergency response authority said Thursday.

The accident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Fangda special steel company, officials said.

One of the victims died on Thursday afternoon due to severe burns. The injured, six of whom are still in critical conditions, are receiving treatment.

An investigation is underway.