Chemical leaks caused major disturbances in central China's Henan
Province and east China's Zhejiang
Province, Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
Hydrogen chloride leaked at a chemical factory in Henan's
Kaifeng County on Saturday, poisoning 376 people. All those who
were exposed to the gas received medical treatment, and 57 remained
under medical care at press time.
The leak occurred at 7:30 AM on Saturday in Fancun Village, when
a condenser in a chemical factory exploded.
Kaifeng officials have formed a special team to investigate the
accident.
In Zhejiang Province, a Friday morning traffic accident in
Cangnan County led to 30 tons of phenol leaking into the Zhijiang
River.
The crisis affected the drinking water of 100,000 local
residents, but the chemical was reportedly removed from the water
after a 50-hour cleanup effort. By 5 AM Sunday, all water was found
acceptable for drinking,
The accident occurred when the truck's brakes failed and it hit
a car.
(China Daily July 19, 2004)