The death toll from a chemical plant blast in east China's Jiangsu Province had risen to?22, with 28
others injured, according to local authorities on Saturday.
The blast, which took place at 8:45 AM Friday at the Fuyuan
Chemical Plant, a Sino-German joint venture in Linhai Township of
Sheyang County, toppled the workshop. The plant produces Dichloro
Fluoro Benzene for industry.
The?28 people who were injured in the blast has been
hurried to hospital.
More than 7,000 local residents who were evacuated from the
blast site have returned to their homes as local environmental
protection authorities said by Friday night, the toxic gas,
chlorine, from the blast had dispersed and had little influence in
the air.
Qiu He, vice governor of Jiangsu Province, rushed to the plant
to supervise rescue work.
Preliminary investigation showed improper operation by workers
was mainly to blame for the accident.
Government of the Sheyang County has ordered all chemical
industries suspend production for check-up.
(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2006)
