Incident Report

Subject:                     20 Confirmed Dead in South China Chemical Plant Blast

Date of Email reporting Incident:   Fri 29/08/2008

Report Detail:

YIZHOU, Guangxi (Xinhua).- Twenty people were confirmed dead from Tuesday's ( 26th Aug 2008) explosion at a chemical plant in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, rescue headquarters said on Wednesday.

At 4:30 p.m., rescuers found the last two bodies of the 20 listed missing after the explosion. All were plant employees in Yizhou City.

Around 470 special rescue personnel left the scene after the rescue operation ended. All the 11,000 evacuated company staff and nearby villagers returned to their homes on Wednesday afternoon.

The initial explosion ripped through an organic compound workshop inside the plant, owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co., at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The cause of the explosion still hasn't been determined.

The blast caused additional explosions in containers of flammable substances such as formaldehyde and acetylene.

A tally compiled as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday showed that 60 people were injured and hospitalized, with 10 discharged so far. Five of these people were residents of a nearby village or motor vehicles riders who were passing the factory. The injured mostly suffered burns and fractures.
Samples of the explosion which lasted until 1 a.m. on Tuesday showed no trace of contamination. The entire blast covered 10,000 sq m and the fire was stopped on Tuesday evening. 100 chemical specialists are now participating in the investigation of the explosion.

 

Additional Documentation:

from: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/27/content_9724017.htm

 YIZHOU, Guangxi, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Twenty people were confirmed dead from Tuesday's explosion at a chemical plant in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, rescue headquarters said on Wednesday.

    At 4:30 p.m., rescuers found the last two bodies of the 20 listed missing after the explosion. All were plant employees in Yizhou City.

Staffers and local officials check the remains of buildings near the explosion site at a chemical plant owned by the Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co. in Yizhou, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Aug. 27, 2008. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua) 

    Around 470 special rescue personnel left the scene after the rescue operation ended. All the 11,000 evacuated company staff and nearby villagers returned to their homes on Wednesday afternoon.

    The initial explosion ripped through an organic compound workshop inside the plant, owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co., at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The cause of the explosion still hasn't been determined.

    The blast caused additional explosions in containers of flammable substances such as formaldehyde and acetylene.

    A tally compiled as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday showed that 60 people were injured and hospitalized, with 10 discharged so far. Five of these people were residents of a nearby village or motor vehicles riders who were passing the factory. The injured mostly suffered burns and fractures.

    The explosions persisted until almost 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The fire at one point covered 10,000 sq m, said a firefighter who took part in the rescue operation. The blaze was put out on Tuesday evening.

Rescuers are ready to enter the explosion site again at a chemical plant owned by the Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co. in Yizhou, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Aug. 27, 2008. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua) 

    The regional Department of Environmental Protection said that samples taken after the explosion showed no contamination.

    More than 100 chemical emergency specialists were sent to the site to assess the situation, and regional work safety authorities began an investigation.

    The plant mainly produces polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which is used in adhesives, calcium carbide, and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), which is used in paints, adhesives and coatings.

    With assets of 340 million yuan (50 million U.S. dollars), the plant manufactures products worth about 300 million yuan a year, and its largest shareholders are state-owned companies.

Smoke rises as rescue operation goes on at the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008. At least five people were killed, 55 others injured and 14 missing in the explosion at the chemical plant, owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co., on Tuesday.

Smoke rises as rescue operation goes on at the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo)

 

Firefighters try to put out the fire at the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008. At least five people were killed, 55 others injured and 14 missing in the explosion at the chemical plant, owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co., on Tuesday.

Firefighters try to put out the fire at the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008. At least five people were killed, 55 others injured and 14 missing in the explosion at the chemical plant, owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co., on Tuesday. (Xinhua Photo)

 

Smoke rises as rescue operation goes on at the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008.

Smoke rises as rescue operation goes on at the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo)

 

Smoke rises from the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008.

Smoke rises from the exploded chemical plant on the outskirts of Yizhou City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 26, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)