An oil truck overturned on Thursday October 26, dumping 33 tons
of wash oil into a river in north China's Shanxi Province, and contaminating an
estimated two million cubic meters of water, forcing water supplies
to nearly 28,000 people to be cut.
A truck carrying 33 tons of wash oil overturned at the junction
of Heshun and Xiyang counties, dumping its full load of toxic
liquid into the river, the provincial environmental bureau
confirmed yesterday, six days after the accident.
According to the bureau, the oil flowed into Yangjiapo
Reservoir, one of the drinking water sources of Xiyang County,
forcing supplies to the towns of Dazhai and Sandu to be cut.
The local authorities have trucked in drinking water and have
had to scramble for alternative sources of water for residents
affected by the spill. They are also trying to connect tap water
pipes to a large well in Mahui village to establish a temporary
supply.
The authorities have dispatched pumps, tons of activated carbon
and other materials to contain and absorb the spill.
Experts from the State Environmental Protection Administration
and the State Environment Monitoring Station have arrived at the
site to oversee the treatment of the polluted water.
Investigations show that the overloaded truck, which had a
capacity of only 31.5 tons, overturned due to a brake
failure.
(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2006)