Hazardous warehouse green lighted despite acknowledging nearby flats, Tianjin safety report found
New explosions rock chemical plant in Shandong as it emerges a consultant was aware of residential area within 1km regulation
A safety assessment that gave the green light to the hazardous goods warehouse at the centre of the Tianjin explosions concluded it conformed to government standards, despite acknowledging the location of nearby flats that have since been shown to be contravene such regulations.
The assessment, by consultancy Zhongbin Haisheng, came despite its acknowledgment that a residential area was 970 metres from the warehouse and a highway about 310 metres away. Both distances are within the government's technical guidelines that require medium to large hazardous warehouses to be at least 1km from other public facilities.
Watch: Air quality is a concern forTianjin residents living near the deadly blast site
In a separate development, explosions at about 8.50pm yesterday shook a chemical plant in Zibo, Shandong province, Xinhua reported. The blasts shattered glass in nearby homes, according to local media, but no casualty figures were available.
Zhongbin Haisheng released its assessment quietly late last week on its reopened website. It had identified 40 safety issues and 24 potential hazards that it said the warehouse operator, Ruihai International Logistics, had corrected after its report.
But none of the problems flagged by the consultancy involved concerns that residential areas were too close, China Youth Daily reported yesterday.