29,096 residents of Zhangzhou in Fujian Province have been relocated to "safe areas" as blazes continue to rage more than 50 hours after a dramatic explosion at a local paraxylene petrochemical facility. More than 125 large coaches have been allocated to evacuate locals from their homes.
WATCH: Zhangzhou rocked by huge explosion at fugitive tycoon's PX plant
The explosion, which took place at 6:56pm on Monday evening, is believed to have been caused by a chemical leak in a pumping station, setting three containers of the dangerous chemical alight. After being briefly extinguished on Wednesday, one of the three containers that caught fire then reignited on Tuesday evening.
The plant is owned by fugitive Taiwanese businessman, wanted in his home country for embezzling huge funds in order to set up extensive business operations in Chinese mainland, where Chen has lived since and acquired PRC citizenship.
Paraxylene (PX) is used in plastic bottles and polyesters and has become a prime focus of environmental protests in China in recent years, forcing the delay or cancelation of plants in other cities such as Maoming, Guangdong (where protests turned violent last April) and Xiamen, also in Fujian.
PX can cause dizziness and nausea if inhaled or ingested, and if skin is contacted it can cause issues with the central nervous system.
[Images via Tencent]
0 User Comments