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China pipeline fires leave big mess
DALIAN, China, The Chinese port of Dalian faced a massive cleanup Saturday after blazes that hit two oil pipelines were extinguished.
Putting out the flames was a 15-hour job, Xinhua, the official government news agency, reported.
The fire was triggered Friday about 6 p.m. by an explosion in a pipeline owned by China National Petroleum Co. The blaze spread to a smaller pipeline owned by the same company. Both lines carry oil between trucks and ships.
"I heard a bang and felt as if someone had pushed me hard," said Chen Zhigang, an officer with the border police. "For a moment I thought there was an earthquake."
No injuries were reported.
A 20-square-mile oil slick covered much of the harbor Saturday. Dispersants and foam were being shipped to the city, and about 20 boats were involved in sucking up oil.
Dalian is the center of a major industrial area and China's northernmost port.
DALIAN, China, The Chinese port of Dalian faced a massive cleanup Saturday after blazes that hit two oil pipelines were extinguished.
Putting out the flames was a 15-hour job, Xinhua, the official government news agency, reported.
The fire was triggered Friday about 6 p.m. by an explosion in a pipeline owned by China National Petroleum Co. The blaze spread to a smaller pipeline owned by the same company. Both lines carry oil between trucks and ships.
"I heard a bang and felt as if someone had pushed me hard," said Chen Zhigang, an officer with the border police. "For a moment I thought there was an earthquake."
No injuries were reported.
A 20-square-mile oil slick covered much of the harbor Saturday. Dispersants and foam were being shipped to the city, and about 20 boats were involved in sucking up oil.
Dalian is the center of a major industrial area and China's northernmost port.
