Race to clear chemicals before rainfall
TIANJIN: Chinese soldiers and rescue workers in gas masks and hazard suits searched for toxic materials in the Chinese port of Tianjin yesterday as Premier Li Keqiang arrived to offer condolences, days after explosions flattened part of a national development zone.
The goal is to clear the chemicals before rain falls, which could create further toxic gas.
The death toll rose to 112 from Wednesday’s disaster, which sent massive fireballs into the sky, hurled burning debris on to a vast industrial area, crumpled cars and shipping containers, burnt out buildings and shattered windows.
The number of missing rose to 95, most of them firefighters, state media said, suggesting the toll would rise significantly. More than 720 people remained in hospital.
Officials acknowledged the presence of toxins, but said they posed no risk to people outside a 2km evacuation zone around the blast area.
“I can responsibly say that there will be no secondary damage to the people,” Shi Luze, chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army’s Beijing Military Region, told reporters, referring to people outside the zone. Shi confirmed the presence of more than 100 tons of deadly sodium cyanide, stored at two separate sites. He said workers were trying to clear the area of chemicals before rain fell, which could create toxic gas.
Fire crews were criticised for using water to douse flames in the initial fire, which might have contributed to the blasts, given the volatile nature of the chemicals.
Greenpeace said tests around the blast site showed water supplies were not badly contaminated.