QINGDAO - Sinopec's board chairman Fu Chengyu made an apology on Saturday over an oil pipeline explosion in East China that has killed at least 47 people and vowed to find out the cause.

According to a statement posted on the company's official microblog, Fu said he feels greatly grieved to see the huge losses of life and property, and expressed deep condolences to the victims.

Fu apologized to people of Qingdao and people of the entire nation as well.

He said Sinopec will conduct rescue work at all costs and cooperate with the investigation team dispatched by the State Council to find out the cause of the accident.

The blast occurred at 10:30 am on Friday in Huangdao District of Qingdao, after oil leaked from a Sinopec pipeline flowed into the municipal pipe network.

Another 136 injured people have been hospitalized, and rescue work is still going on, according to rescue headquarters.

47 die in oil pipe blast

Medical team sent to oil pipe blast areas