Poisoning caused by cyanide and chlorine leaks: 3 dead, hundred evacuated
A few days ago a gas leak provoked 9 deaths and the flight of 150,000 inhabitants.
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) Hundreds of people were poisoned due to a chlorine leak from a tank at an industrial plant. The accident occurred in the town of Nanchang in southeastern Jiangxi. Meanwhile, in another accident near Beijing, 3 people died and 15 others are recovering from symptoms of cyanide poisoning at a gold extraction plant.
An official in Jiangxi told the Xinhua news service that 22 persons were poisoned and recovering in hospital and 282 total people had been affected. According to the government agency, the tank containing the liquid chlorine was made from an old storage facility orginally made for use at a plant that had been fallen into disuse for years in a Nanchang residential neighborhood.
The accident in which 3 people died occurred in Huairou, a high-class hillside residential zone north of Beijing. The causes of the leak are still unknown. Authorities transferred 200 persons from the contaminated area.
These accidents came just days after another lethal incident in the Chongqing region. On Apr. 16 a series of explosions and gas leaks had caused the death of 9 persons and evacuation of 150,00 inhabitants.
After a few days 120,000 returned to their homes, yet another 20,000 who live near the plant had to wait another day. The chlorine leak was contained using tanks to explode and burn the three leaking tanks.
The chemical plant is located on the banks of the Jialing River in a densely populated residential area with shopping malls, supermarkets and restaurants. "A plant like this is in our city is hazardous," said local residents. "The (plant) owners have broken safety laws for their own financial gain." Miao Guangkui, captain of the emergency squad, said, "the explosions were caused by out of date plant conditions and improper handling."
Last December, in the same region of Chongqing (Kai district) a toxic gas leak led to the death of 243 persons and poisoning of thousands. More than 60,000 had fled the area during the night, and severa diedl while trying to escape the contaminated area.
Such industrial accidents are commonplace in China. The country's accelerated rate of industrialization and lack of maintenance lead to thousands of work-related accidents and injuries each year.
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25/02/2022 14:00
