Advertisement
Advertisement
Tianjin warehouse explosion 2015
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Residents whose homes were damaged in the blasts protest outside the hotel where the authorities hold a daily press conference on the relief efforts. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

From proud homeowner to the front line of protests over flats damaged in Tianjin blasts

Residents whose homes have been damaged are considering lawsuit against warehouse operator and property developers

If it was not for the deadly blast that severely damaged the first flat he bought, Mr Lu, an entrepreneur in his 30s, never would have thought he would be standing among protesters petitioning the government.

"We can't stand this anymore. I have a home but can't go back. I have a three-year-old daughter who was scared to death when the blast happened," said Lu yesterday, outside the venue for the daily press conference on relief efforts. "But the government hasn't helped us at all."

Read More: ‘There’ll be no cover-up over Tianjin blasts’, Communist Party reassures as death toll rises to 114

In 2010, Lu bought his flat at Vanke's Jinyu Lanwan, a European-style residential complex, at a cost of 14,000 yuan (HK$17,000) per square metre.

"In principle, we should negotiate with the developer, but in this case, I don't think they can do anything," said Lu, echoed by others. "The problem here is the loopholes in the government's regulation. Who stamped that government approval?"

In the morning, more than 50 homeowners from four flat complexes near the blast site staged a second round of demonstrations outside the hotel that hosts the press conferences.

They called for the government to buy homes that had been destroyed or badly damaged.

Owners of property at Vanke's Harbour City shouted: "We want the truth!" and held banners that read: "We love the party and the government, please buy back our flats."

The demonstration lasted about three hours.

Some residents are considering further action.

Chen, a homeowner at Qihang Jiayuan, said the owners would jointly sue Ruihai International Logistics, which operated the warehouse at the centre of the blasts.

"I've consulted lawyers in Beijing and talked to other owners. We will do this together," he said.

After six days of waiting, Lu had also decided that if the government failed to help, he would consult a lawyer.

"Now it depends on the government's move," said Lu.

Vanke, China's largest property developer, said 5,200 units at three of its projects were affected by the blasts.

Harbour City was the closest complex to the explosion site. Its residents said it was hard for them to move back even though they were told the buildings would be repaired. Many haven't returned home since the blasts.

Residents who have returned said they were offered 2,000 yuan a month for three months as compensation, but few took it as they feared it would make them ineligible for further payouts.

"We don't know what kind of toxic materials are left in the area, or if the building will be safe enough after the explosion," said Wu Jun, a Harbour City homeowner.

Protesters said residents were mainly young parents with children and seniors. Facilities nearby had attracted many to buy.

"We were told there was a shopping mall, schools, banks, everything, but [not] warehouses storing dangerous chemicals," said Wang Zhiguo, 31, from Shandong , whose wife and mother were injured in the explosions. He has no place to stay but in the hospital with his wife.

While Wang still held hope in the government, others had decided to sue the owner of the dangerous goods warehouse and the developers of their homes.

"We'd like to sue the government, but I understand that it's impossible in China," Wu said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: From homeowner to protest's front line
Post