Firefighters quick to prevent leakage
- Source: Global Times
- [02:04 July 26 2010]
- Comments
Workers remove oil from waters off Dalian, Liaoning Province, Sunday. The local government called for stronger efforts to clean the oil on Saturday. More than 6,590 people were involved in the operation. Photo: CFP
By Peng Pu
No deaths or injuries were reported after an oil tank burst into flames Saturday night in Dayawan, Guangdong Province.
The fire was extinguished after one hour and quick thinking by emergency rescue workers prevented the oil leak from spreading.
Guangzhou Daily reported that the oil tank caught fire at 2 am Saturday in a refinery at the Dayawan Petrochemicals Industrial Park in Huizhou.
The tank, belonging to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), contained coking oil, used to burn coal into coke, for use in the steel-making industry.
The spectacular blaze lit up the night sky and the flames could be seen 20 kilometers away, forming a giant mushroom cloud.
Firefighters rushed to the rescue and doused the flames, preventing oil from leaking.
Primary estimates indicated that the economic loss could exceed 600,000 yuan ($ 882,352).
The fire could have been worse. Coking oil, a refined petroleum product, can burn at temperatures as high as 180 C.
