Devastating pipeline blast kills dozens

SOME 18,000 people have been evacuated from a Chinese coastal city after an oil pipeline explosion killed at least 47 and sent thick smoke billowing into the sky.

The Friday morning blast in Qingdao ripped roads apart, pictures showed, while leaving many sections of the city cut off from utilities.

The latest government report yesterday did not state a reason for the evacuation, mention its timing, or say whether people had been able to return to their homes.

But, according to official media, students from nearby schools and local residents were handed out masks over fears of toxic emissions. The Global Times later reported: ‘‘Environmental monitoring shows that the concentration of toxic materials is within national standards’’.

The impact of the blast disrupted the supply of water, gas and electricity in parts of the city, with the Government distributing 2000 candles on Friday night.

Authorities also provided 40,000 servings of free food for breakfast and lunch.

Electricity has now been restored in all but two communities in the district, the local government said.

The pipeline, run by stateowned oil giant Sinopec, sprang a leak early on Friday and exploded several hours later as workers tried to repair it, the Qingdao municipal government said in its verified Sina Weibo account.