Most of the villagers evacuated after Tuesday's deadly chemical
spill were allowed to return home on Friday night, sources
said.
The accident, which occurred on the Huai'an section of the
Beijing-Shanghai expressway in east China's Jiangsu
Province, was caused by a flat tyre when a tanker carrying 35 tons
of liquid chlorine collided with a cargo truck. The vehicles
overturned and the cargo truck driver was killed on the spot.
After three days of continuous and close monitoring of the
contaminated area, environmental workers confirmed the air quality
in most of the affected areas was within safety limits and would
not harm people or livestock.
Of around 10,000 villagers evacuated from the spot, most, who
had stayed with their relatives and friends, went back home on
Friday night.
Only residents of one village, which lies about 150 meters from
the spot of the accident, remain unable to return to their
homes.
Those who went home were given advice on to how to deal with
contaminated items and belongings in their houses and told to
contact related departments in case of unexpected problems.
The death toll so far has risen to 29 and medical workers from
Shanghai, Nanjing and other cities are still treating 343 injured
people in four local hospitals. Of the injured, a few remain in a
critical condition and in intensive care, but some are expected to
leave hospital on Saturday.
To completely cut off all possible sources of continued
contamination, rescue workers buried all dead livestock and
contaminated objects deep in designated areas. The tanker was
removed to a chemical factory for further treatment.
Sun Huashan, deputy director of State Administration of
Production Safety, said that all contamination sources have been
eliminated and the area is now safe.
Li Yuanchao, secretary of Communist Party Committee of Jiangsu
Province, has visited both the scene of the crash and victims in
hospital. He asked the local government to do their best to take
care of the people and their homes.
Local insurance companies have also started compensation
procedures to provide financial relief for the victims.
Damage to the surrounding farmland, covering an area of 1,375
hectares, is quite serious.
Local people say it is possible the land will be unusable for
some time.
(China Daily April 2, 2005)
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