Thousands evacuated after blast at chemical plant in southern China
November 24th, 2011 - 11:49 pm ICT by BNO NewsGUANGZHOU, CHINA (BNO NEWS) — Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday afternoon after a large explosion ripped through a warehouse at a chemical plant in southern China, state-run media reported.
The explosion happened at around 2.35 p.m. local time at the No. 6 warehouse storage facility at the Futian Chemical Company in the Panyu district of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.
The state-run Xinhua news agency, citing a government statement, said more than 6,000 people in a nearby neighborhood were evacuated when emergency teams detected low levels of hydrogen chloride in the air. Inhalation of the toxic gas can cause pulmonary edema, failure of the circulatory system, and death.
A fire which broke out at the warehouse was brought under control at around 3.10 p.m. local time, district officials said. It was not immediately known if the explosion or the gas caused any casualties.
- 6,000 evacuated after China chemical plant blast - Nov 25, 2011
- 2,000 evacuated due to gas leak in China - Aug 14, 2010
- Three company officials booked for Thane gas leak - Sep 21, 2011
- Four killed in gas leak near Mumbai - Sep 21, 2011
- Four die after scaffolding collapse at south China construction site - May 09, 2010
- Thunderstorm grounds over 100 flights in China - Apr 28, 2012
- Chemical weapons can save lives - Dec 11, 2011
- Blast at chemical plant in China; nine killed - Apr 14, 2011
- Blast at southwest China fireworks factory kills at least six - Aug 22, 2010
- Man goes on stabbing rampage at south China primary school; many injured - Apr 28, 2010
- Boat carrying thirteen fishermen goes missing off south China - May 28, 2010
- 2 dead, 16 injured after explosion in Foxconn factory in southwest China - May 21, 2011
- Fireworks blast kills at least 12 in central China - Dec 20, 2010
- Over 10,000 evacuated in China after tankers' collision - May 17, 2012
- Shaft collapses at coal mine in southwest China, killing 5 - Sep 25, 2011
Tags: bno, chemical company, circulatory system, district officials, emergency teams, explosion ripped through, government statement, guangdong province, guangzhou china, hydrogen chloride, inhalation, large explosion, nearby neighborhood, pulmonary edema, southern china, storage facility, thursday afternoon, toxic gas, warehouse storage, xinhua news agency