The panic caused by the chlorine leak and explosions have been
relieved and life is back to order in southwest China's Chongqing
Municipality.
At Chongqing Normal College, a computer qualification
examination was held Saturday morning. Several hundred of students
were taking the test. Before entering the classroom, a student
surnamed Lin told Xinhua she didn't change her plan to climb hills
nearby on Sunday.
People were going shopping in the most popular shopping area,
the Liberation Monument, as usual. "I know of the chlorine leak,
but it has been under control. So, nothing to worry about now,"
said a shop owner surnamed Li.
At the Tianyuan Chemical Industry Plant in Jiangbei District
where the chlorine leak occurred, firemen were still spraying
sodium hydroxide liquid to neutralize the chlorine gas. Several new
warning lines have been set by police around the plant.
At 9:30 a.m., Mayor Wang Hongju came to guide rescue work in the
headquarters 200 meters away from the plant. Rescue teams have been
giving out breakfast to evacuators in the temporary residential
places.
In Jiangbei District, 2,400 people have been moved to the No. 18
Middle School and a cinema. "I had a not bad sleep last night and a
good breakfast this morning. Now I am waiting to go home," said an
evacuee Yang Yaping.
Air quality have returned to normal standard by Saturday morning
and drinking water was not polluted, according to the municipal
environmental protection bureau.
The chlorine leak occurred Thursday night which was followed by
powerful explosions at about 17:57 Friday at Tianyuan Chemical
Industry Plant in Jiangbei District, releasing high-concentration
of highly irritating, greenish-yellow chlorine gas. Nine people
have been confirmed dead or missing and three were badly injured.
More than 150,000 residents have been moved out of areas within
three kilometers surrounding the plant.
(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2004)