Death toll hits 48 as rescue continues in E China blast

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Death toll hits 48 as rescue continues in E China blast

(Xinhua) 09:37, November 24, 2013

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Photo taken with a mobile phone shows the site of a pipeline explosion in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 22, 2013. A fire broke out and the blast occurred around 10 a.m. in the Huangdao District when workers were repairing a petroleum pipeline which broke and resulted in an oil leakage around 3 a.m. Casualties remained unknown. (Xinhua)

QINGDAO, Nov. 23 -- The death toll rose to 48 on Saturday after a crude oil leak from an old pipeline triggered two blasts in the east China port city of Qingdao on Friday.

Crude oil began leaking from an underground pipeline operated by Sinopec, China's largest oil refiner, at 3:00 a.m. on Friday in Huangdao District of Qingdao, according to the municipal government.

The leaked oil then flowed into the city's rainwater pipe system, which empties into Jiaozhou Bay. Two blasts occurred at around 10:30 a.m. when workers were repairing the ruptured pipeline.

One of the blasts occurred near the leaking pipeline, while the other happened close to the site where the rainwater pipe empties into the sea.

The explosions ripped through roads in the district, leaving deep cracks on road surfaces, overturning vehicles parked on the roadside and shattering glass and bricks of nearby buildings.

The local government has ruled out a terror attack as the cause, and the State Administration of Work Safety has sent a work team to the scene to guide the rescue efforts.

A total of 18,000 people have been evacuated from the district and local authorities are doling out food and water for residents affected by the blasts. Electricity has been restored in all but two communities in the district.

"We can't live here any more, we must move as soon as possible," said a woman surnamed Xing, whose 87-year-old mother sustained minor injuries in the blast.

Xing said she was injured slightly in a similar accident that occurred in the district in 1989, when an oil depot explosion blew her away.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday asked for maximum efforts in the search for survivors of the blast. He also asked local authorities to spare no effort to rescue the injured, find the cause of the accident and strengthen safety.

Premier Li Keqiang also urged local authorities to improve inspection and supervision and make sure safety procedures are followed.

The Qingdao municipal government has ordered scrutiny of the safety of its pipeline network following the accident.

The State Council, China's cabinet, has decided to establish an investigation team to find the cause of the accident and hold relevant parties accountable.