 No pollution from chem plant blast
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-28 07:29 YIZHOU, Guangxi: Samples taken after Tuesday's explosion in the organic compound workshop of a chemical plant owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co, showed no evidence of pollution, the regional department of environmental protection said yesterday. The blast triggered further explosions of flammable substances, such as formaldehyde and acetylene, stored in the workshop. Twenty people were confirmed dead, the rescue headquarters said yesterday. At 4:30 pm, rescuers found the last two bodies of the 20 listed missing after the explosion. All were plant employees in Yizhou. Fire from the explosions, which persisted until almost 1 pm on Tuesday, spread over 10,000 sq m, a firefighter in the rescue operation said. Firefighters searched among the debris for missing people on Tuesday evening after the blaze had been extinguished. About 11,500 people living within a 3 km radius of the plant were evacuated. More than 100 chemical emergency specialists were dispatched to the site to assess the safety situation. The plant mainly produces polyvinyl acetate, used in adhesives, and calcium carbide and vinyl acetate monomer, used in paints, adhesives and coatings. The plant is in a development zone of Yizhou, a four-hour drive from the regional capital of Nanning. The plant, which has assets of 340 million yuan ($50 million), manufactures products that generate annual revenues of about 300 million yuan, the firm said. Xinhua (China Daily 08/28/2008 page5) |
