A gas tanker blast in China’s Zhejiang province killed at least 19 people and injured more than 170, state media reported on Sunday.
The tanker truck transporting liquefied petroleum gas exploded at a highway exit in Wenling on Saturday afternoon, according to Xinhua news agency.
Flames and smoke engulfed the area causing damages to a factory, as well as homes and vehicles close to the site of accident.
“Firstly, it caused a nearby factory that was in production to collapse,” Zhu Zhixiang, commander of the Fire and Rescue Bureau, said. “The damage caused by this type of collapse is quite significant. It happened layer by layer. Secondly in a residential area around 60-70 meters away, more than 200 rooms were damaged. Also, vehicles in the area were affected. And fourthly, there were massive casualty numbers amongst pedestrians, workers and migrant workers in the area.”
China Central Television reported that the cause of the blast was under investigation.
The accident which occurred at around 4:46 pm Saturday when a tank truck loaded with liquified gas exploded near the village of Liangshan on a section of the Shenyang-Haikou Expressway has thrown the nation into mourning.
A second blast happened when the blown-up truck fell onto a workshop near the expressway.
The explosions caused the collapse of some residential houses and factory workshops.
The ministries of public security and emergency management have sent their working groups to Zhejiang.
Rescue and search efforts are underway.
The Chinese government authority responsible for safety production called for a speedy investigation without specifying a deadline.
It also authorized the traffic police to take additional measures and conduct inspections of vehicles carrying dangerous chemicals.
According to Vice Mayor of Wenling, Zhu Minglian, after the accident, all levels immediately organized forces, set up on-site headquarters, formed six working groups such as on-site rescue, and quickly put into work.
More than 30 sets of excavators and other large-scale rescue machinery and equipment were put into site rescue, 151 rescue vehicles of various types were dispatched, and more than 2660 people participated in rescue.
At present, the rescue work is still in intense progress.
In addition, more than 630 medical staff were dispatched to the local area for treatment. 62 experts from provincial and local levels arrived at Wenling for guidance and treatment at the first time.
At present, the injured are treated in six hospitals including Taizhou Enze hospital and Wenling first people’s hospital.
Each hospital has a leader who is responsible for organizing, commanding and coordinating to open up a green channel.
For the seriously injured, one-on-one rescue team shall be set up to implement “one policy for one person” and “one plan for one person”, and consultation shall be conducted one by one to do the rescue work well.
