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Common Dreams reports:
The death toll from this week's fiery explosions at the Chinese port of Tianjin climbed above 100 on Saturday, while confusion spread over whether authorities had ordered the evacuation of everyone within two miles amid fears of chemical contamination.
[...] Anti-chemical warfare troops have entered the site, according to the BBC.
[...] Two Chinese news outlets, including the state-run The Paper, reported that the warehouse was storing 700 tons of sodium cyanide--70 times more than it should have been holding at one time--and that authorities were rushing to clean it up.
Sodium cyanide is a toxic chemical that can form a flammable gas upon contact with water.
[...] "The company that owned the warehouse where the blasts originated, Rui Hai International Logistics, appears to have violated Chinese law by operating close to apartment buildings and worker dormitories", journalist Andrew Jacobs reports for [NYTimes] (paywall). "Residents say they were unaware that the company was handling dangerous materials."
About 6,300 people have been displaced by the blasts, with around 721 injured and 33 in serious condition, Xinhua news agency said. At least 21 firefighters are reported dead.
Related: Large Warehouse Explosions Injure 300-400 in Tianjin, China
For the adulterated baby formula abuses of 2008 (4 infants dead; 12,892 hospitalized), 2 people were executed. One wonders what will come of this case.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 16 2015, @02:20PM
70 times more than it should have been holding at one time
The regulations are there, but not enforced. The governments can sit and make regulations all they want, but without a solid system to enforce them, its useless.
Think of speeding laws on roads: Many people won't give a crap about them if they are not enforced in some way. (not that I agree with speeding laws)
...abuses of 2008, 2 people were executed. One wonders what will come of this case
A few more will get executed, but it won't stop others from doing the same thing. Capital punishment never stopped criminals from committing murder. Profit-seekers will continue to seek profit by any and all means if there is no oversight. This is also one of the reasons you should never eat anything made or packed in China.
Over-regulation kills business, but non-enforcement of regulation kills the people.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday August 17 2015, @04:17PM
> it won't stop others from doing the same thing.
It will just remind them to funnel their cash offshore and keep the jet ready for a quick exit when bad things happen.