Introduction
The 2019 Xiangshui chemical plant explosion took place on March 21, 2019 in Chenjiagang Chemical Industry Park, Xiangshui County, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China. The facility was operated by Tianjiayi Chemical and was used to produce fertilizer or pesticides. The explosion resulted in 78 deaths and 617 injuries. The State Council of China officially recognized the severity of the accident and referred to it as the “3.21 Explosive Accident.”
The chemical plant had a history of safety violations and environmental pollution, having been penalized six times for infractions of pollution and waste management laws. The cause of the explosion is not yet known, but a worker at the plant reported that it was started by a fire in a natural gas tanker that spread to a benzoyl storage tank. The local government used anti-drone technology to prevent journalists from covering the disaster and banned foreign media from entering the disaster area. The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervisory Commission issued warnings and filed investigations and criminal charges against 44 companies and executives for violating labor safety measures, environmental pollution, and forgery of certification documents.
The Explosion
The history of the chemical park in Chenjiagang is marked by a series of accidents and environmental violations, including fines for pollution and waste management, previous fires and deaths, and allegations of bribery and corruption. The plant was located in an area with a history of chemical accidents, including a previous explosion in 2007, toxic gas releases, and explosions at other local factories in 2011.
The explosion occurred at 14:48 local time and resulted in a magnitude 2.2 seismic shock that was detected by the China Earthquake Networks Center. The blast caused numerous fires, destroyed several buildings, and caused damage to nearby factories and offices. The explosion was so powerful that it was seen by satellites and registered on earthquake sensors. The aftermath of the explosion revealed a 170-meter-wide and 2-meter-deep crater that required filling and neutralizing to prevent soil contamination.
The explosion resulted in a direct economic loss of approximately 1.99 billion yuan (about 284.3 million U.S. dollars). But the cost of human lives and the toll it took on the families of the victims, as well as the impact on the environment and the community, cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
In November of the same year, the State Council approved the investigation report into the accident. The investigation found that the plant owned by Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co. Ltd. was responsible for the accident, as it had neglected the laws and regulations regarding environmental protection and production safety in dealing with chemical waste. The spontaneous ignition of nitrified waste, illegally stored for protracted periods of time, was the cause of the explosion.
It is not just the company that is to blame, however. The investigation group pointed out misconduct in emergency management, environment protection, industry, market supervision, planning, and other departments in Jiangsu Province. The investigation reveals that the tragedy of Xiangshui was not just a result of the actions of one company, but a failure of the system as a whole.
The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervisory Commission issued warnings to the executive deputy governor and deputy governor of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government and filed investigations and criminal charges against 44 enterprises and executives for illegal storage of dangerous substances, significant violations of labor safety measures, environmental pollution, and forgery of certification documents.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2019 Xiangshui Chemical Plant Explosion was a tragedy that resulted from a long history of environmental violations and disregard for safety regulations at the facility. The incident highlights the need for stronger regulations and enforcement of chemical safety measures to prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future.
Image reference, and video footage of the explosion:
