2010-07-30 [Source: China Economic Review]

A propylene-gas line explosion at a plastics factory in Nanjing killed at least 12, the latest in a string of industrial accidents that have hit China recently, the Wall Street Journal reported. The explosion occurred in a 66-building compound in a densely populated urban district of Nanjing. Officials estimate that around 300 people were hospitalized by the accident. Also on Wednesday, containers carrying the explosive chemical compound Trimethylchlorosilicane fell into a river near Jilin city. Reports variously indicated that between 1,000 and 3,000 containers had been washed into the river, leading city officials to turn off the city's water supply. A spokesperson from the municipal government said that 350 of the containers have been recovered thus far. Earlier this month, Zijin Mining (601899.SH, 2899.HK) drew fire for allegedly failing to disclose a chemical waste leak that contaminated Fujian's Ting River. The company is due to face heavy fines and restricted production at the facility.