Recurring explosions setting off fires continue to hamper attempts by nuclear and biological warfare experts to clear hundreds of tonnes of highly poisonous cyanide stored at a warehouse devastated by twin powerful blasts which killed 112 in this Chinese port city.
Two explosions — one Sunday evening and another Monday morning — were reported as expert teams announced plans to intensify search for survivors and bodies. The dead included 21 free fighters, the highest so far in a tragedy in China’s recent history.
Over 720 people were injured in the blasts. Nearly 100 people remain missing, including 85 firefighters. Officials fear more blasts due to rains today as the chemicals explode when come in contact with water.
The explosions took place as rescuers began cleaning hundreds of tonnes of cyanide at the blast site, most of which was unaffected raising fears of the possibility for contaminating air and water sources.
Shi luze, chief of staff of the Beijing Military Area Command, on Sunday said that rescuers were using hydrogen peroxide to neutralise the toxins and building cofferdams to enclose the damaged barrels, while trucking away those intact.
Only safe levels of harmful gas were detected near the blast site, he added. He said over 2,000 rescuers are searching and cleaning hazardous chemicals outside the core area of the blast site.
Some military chemical specialists found different types of chemicals, including magnesium particles and sulphur scattered in some buildings near the core area.
Bao Jingling, chief engineer of the city’s bureau of environmental protection, said among the 17 monitoring sites outside the quarantined area, two reported readings of hydrogen cyanide slightly above the normal standards which would not pose threat to health.
Chinese Premier li Keqiang, who visited the areas yesterday, ordered equal treatment for all firefighters who died in the deadly blasts.