CHINA TOPIX

03/28/2024 04:29:35 pm

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First Rains After Tianjin Port Explosions Test Negative for Cyanide

Sodium Cyanide Tianjin Port Explosion

(Photo : Getty Images/ChinaFotoPress) So far, no cases of cyanide poisoning have been reported inside the city. Decontamination crews, working on blast site, had to stop their operations due to the rain.

Chinese authorities have announced that tests conducted on rainfall in Tianjin city on Tuesday did not report any traces of cyanide. There were fears that the deadly chemical may be spread by rainfall after a chemical explosion ripped large sections of the Tianjin port and killed more than a hundred people about a week ago.

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Xinhua reported that sodium cyanide was just one of several deadly chemicals that was storaged in the facility which exploded. The chemical is known to release hydrogen cyanide when exposed to water.

The local environmental protection head Bao Jingling announced that rains within 7 kilometers of the explosion site yielded negative results when tested for cyanide.

Bao recounted that he was under the rain for a few minutes and did not feel any adverse effect in his body.

While some of the water around the port contained some amounts of cyanide, authorities assured the general public that the amount is within safe limits.

So far, no cases of cyanide poisoning have been reported in the city. Decontamination crews continue to work on blast site but had to stop their operations momentarily due to the rain.

Meanwhile, authorities have uncovered and identified the real owners of Tianjin Rui Hai International Logistics. The company president Yu Xuewi admitted that he owns a 55 percent stake in the firm and used his cousin Li Liang as a dummy representative. Yu is reported to have once worked in a governemnt chemical firm.

The other owner has been identified as Dong Shexuan, who owns the remaining 45 percent of the company. He made it appear in papers that his former classmate Shu Zheng owns the shares. Dong's father was once a senior police head in Tianjin.

Both Yu and Dong as well as several other company officers have been placed under arrest.

The explosion not only killed many firefighters and also injured many, it also made several hundred of them homeless. On Monday, they vented their frustration and held a rally outside the establishment where city officials are conducting a press conference. Many of them were demanding that the local officials either buy or fix their houses. The rally was peaceful and no untoward incidents were reported.

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