Powerful blast kills at least 10 in Nanjing
Source: Xinhua |
July 29, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A POWERFUL explosion at a factory in eastern China's Nanjing City yesterday left at least 10 people dead and hundreds injured, including 14 critically, the city government said.
Officials of the government of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, told a press conference yesterday evening that 10 people were killed and 14 others suffered serious injuries after the blast at 10:15am ripped through the abandoned plastics factory.
In addition, more than 120 people have been hospitalized, according to the official.
The death toll, which is based on the number of bodies so far recovered, was expected to climb because rescuers were searching for more victims and some injured people were reported to be in very critical condition.
Gas leak
The blast was caused by a gas leak after a propylene pipeline was damaged as workers dismantled factory buildings of the Nanjing No. 4 Plastics Factory, said a statement from the State Administration of Work Safety.
The explosion occurred when a motorist started a car engine at the scene, igniting the leaking gas, the administration said.
The pipeline, transporting explosive gas to the factory, was shut down, it said.
A man surnamed Ding, who lives on the 16th floor of a residential building within 200 meters from the explosion, said "the whole building shook for several seconds."
"Tables and closets turned over and window panes were shattered," Ding said.
"It was very frightening. I thought it was an earthquake and rushed down out of the building. Lots of people rushed outdoors."
"Our homes were seriously damaged," said another resident surnamed Jia. "The buildings have been deformed."
Buildings within a radius of 100 meters of the explosion were seriously damaged. A bus near the site was destroyed by fire. Buildings, which were being demolished before the explosion, collapsed from the force of the explosion.
Nearby stores, restaurants, gas stations and other buildings were all damaged and suspended service.
Hundreds of firefighters and rescuers were working at the site. The police sealed off the area in case of further gas poisoning and explosions.
"The impact came from the front," said a bus passenger surnamed Lin. "Before I knew it, my head, nose and leg were injured."
An elderly woman, surnamed Xu, was taking her grandson to a hospital by bus before the explosion.
"We saw thick smoke ahead of us and the air suddenly became hard to breathe," Xu said. She and other passengers on the bus escaped from the vehicle and ran from the fire.
Officials of the government of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, told a press conference yesterday evening that 10 people were killed and 14 others suffered serious injuries after the blast at 10:15am ripped through the abandoned plastics factory.
In addition, more than 120 people have been hospitalized, according to the official.
The death toll, which is based on the number of bodies so far recovered, was expected to climb because rescuers were searching for more victims and some injured people were reported to be in very critical condition.
Gas leak
The blast was caused by a gas leak after a propylene pipeline was damaged as workers dismantled factory buildings of the Nanjing No. 4 Plastics Factory, said a statement from the State Administration of Work Safety.
The explosion occurred when a motorist started a car engine at the scene, igniting the leaking gas, the administration said.
The pipeline, transporting explosive gas to the factory, was shut down, it said.
A man surnamed Ding, who lives on the 16th floor of a residential building within 200 meters from the explosion, said "the whole building shook for several seconds."
"Tables and closets turned over and window panes were shattered," Ding said.
"It was very frightening. I thought it was an earthquake and rushed down out of the building. Lots of people rushed outdoors."
"Our homes were seriously damaged," said another resident surnamed Jia. "The buildings have been deformed."
Buildings within a radius of 100 meters of the explosion were seriously damaged. A bus near the site was destroyed by fire. Buildings, which were being demolished before the explosion, collapsed from the force of the explosion.
Nearby stores, restaurants, gas stations and other buildings were all damaged and suspended service.
Hundreds of firefighters and rescuers were working at the site. The police sealed off the area in case of further gas poisoning and explosions.
"The impact came from the front," said a bus passenger surnamed Lin. "Before I knew it, my head, nose and leg were injured."
An elderly woman, surnamed Xu, was taking her grandson to a hospital by bus before the explosion.
"We saw thick smoke ahead of us and the air suddenly became hard to breathe," Xu said. She and other passengers on the bus escaped from the vehicle and ran from the fire.
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