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44 dead after ruptured oil pipeline explodes
中石化青島油管爆炸 44人遇難
In Friday’s oil pipeline explosion in China’s eastern city of Qingdao at least 44 are now known to have died, while 136 have been injured, when a leaking oil pipe caught fire and later exploded.
It’s the latest in a string of deadly accidents to hit China’s petrochemical industry. Our reporter Han Peng arrived at the scene on Friday, and has sent us this report.
For a moment, the world was turned upside down.
"We heard a huge "Boom!" and then lots of glass began falling from the sky. We barely escaped." Mr Wang, witness said.Survivors say the scene was one seen in disaster films.
The massive blast ripped open a major road?Buildings were reduced to rubble, with many cars overturned by the devastating force of the blast.
The source of the explosion was a leak at an oil pipeline owned by China’s biggest refiner, Sinopec.
"Sinopec workers were trying to repair a leaking pipeline when the explosion happened." Zhang Guixiang, Deputy Director of Qingdao Dev′t Zone Mgmt. Committee said.
President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out effort to save the injured.
Survivors meanwhile are still recovering from their near-death experience.
"Huge rocks were falling smashing down like in a rainstorm?Smoke was blocking our eyesight. I didn’t know where to run. I thought I would be killed right there." Survivor said.
"My car just seemed to explode as the glass shattered. It jumped up, and I was almost thrown out. When it fell back down, I broke my bones in my feet. My friends are in serious condition after suffering head injuries." Survivor said.
This is definitely going to be a sleepless night for the families of those injured in this deadly explosion. It’s already past 12 o’clock. Here right outside the ICU, families are still waiting, trying to learn at the first moment how their beloved ones are coping. And outside the hospital, the city is also sleepless.
Emergency workers meanwhile are working around the clock to restore electricity. Much harder, however, will be restoring faith in the safety of China’s petrochemical industry.
