Toxic chemical spill in southern China 10 times worse than previously disclosed
- Officials sacked for negligence as petrochemical company in Fujian province accused of deliberately misleading authorities over extent of contamination
- Dozens hospitalised and millions in lost revenue for small fishing villages
A toxic chemical leak in southern China which put 52 people in hospital and has cost affected fishing villages millions of dollars in lost revenue was 10 times worse than previously reported.
Quanzhou city authorities on Sunday confirmed that 69 tonnes of the petrochemical C9 – a by-product of the oil refining process – had spilled into the local seawater, far in excess of the originally claimed seven tonnes.
Two officials have been sacked for negligence, in addition to the arrests of seven people for their roles in the incident.
Fishermen in Xiaocuo, the coastal village where the leak occurred, have consistently questioned the official version of events which began on November 4 when a tube carrying the toxic liquid from a local petrochemical plant to a tanker came loose.
Quanzhou is the most populous city in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian and its Quangang district is well known for its fishing industry. Petrochemical plants have been built near many of its fishing villages.
Locals fear Chinese officials more concerned with cover-up rather than clean-up after chemical spill
Four days after villagers were woken by a strong chemical odour, they were told by the authorities that around seven tonnes of the C9 chemical mix had been spilled.