Sixty-five victims from the toxic chemical leak last month in
central China had recovered by Thursday, while 66 were still
receiving treatment in hospital, local health authorities said.
The remaining victims were expected to be discharged within a
week, said Guan Xiaofeng, a doctor at the Central Hospital of
Xiaogan City, Hubei Province.
The accident happened at around 9:00 PM on Jan. 30 when a truck
carrying dimethyl sulfate leaked the chemical along a
five-kilometer stretch of No. 107 National Highway near Xiaogan
City.
A man who was driving behind the truck, died from inhaling the
poisonous fumes and 131 villagers and passers-by were hospitalized
with chest pains and stinging eyes.
A tanker crack has been blamed for the leak, according to local
public security department.
The truck belongs to Jinlong Chemical Co. in Zibo, east China's
Shandong Province. It was registered for
carrying methanol, but it was actually used to transport the much
more toxic dimethyl sulfate, Xiaogan police said.
The two tanker drivers, who fled after the incident, have given
themselves up to police.
Dimethyl sulfate is a highly dangerous carcinogen which, if
inhaled or absorbed through the skin, can severely burn the eyes
and cause permanent loss of vision. It can also damage the liver
and kidneys, and affect the heart.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2007)