Qingdao blast another example of safety lesson learned after disaster

Two weeks after a fatal blast ripped up the eastern port of Qingdao, it has become increasingly clear that this was a man-made disaster that could have been avoided. Sixty-two people were killed and 140 injured in the explosion, which was triggered by a leaky oil pipeline, apparently after a seven-hour delay in evacuating people nearby. The oil spill also caused serious environmental damage. The authorities attributed the tragedy to human negligence as well as poor infrastructural planning and maintenance. Understandably, the blame has brought more anger than comfort to those who lost their loved ones and properties.

This was one of China's deadliest industrial accidents in years. Exactly why people were not alerted and evacuated immediately after the leak was detected will be one of the key questions to be addressed in the investigation. After the blast, state oil giant Sinopec said the pipeline would be permanently shut. But residents have every right to find out who was responsible and demand better assurance of their safety.

Accidents are inevitable in any society. But fatalities can be minimised by prevention and sound contingency plans. Unfortunately, both seemed to be lacking in this case. The buck-passing between the local government and the oil company over the past two weeks infuriated the public further.

Things are further clouded by suggestions of non-compliance with planning rules, and that Sinopec was alerted to the risk of its ageing network two years ago. Maintenance work was also said to have been hampered by rapid urban development. A report submitted by the oil company to the city government in September 2011 warned of the threat. When the pipe was built under the area three decades ago it was a remote place; after three decades it had mushroomed into a densely populated area. The incident underlines the challenge in balancing safety with urbanisation.

After every disaster, authorities must reflect whether lessons of the past have been learned, and pursue that question through an open and transparent inquiry into every aspect of it. It is only right that President Xi Jinping has swiftly intervened with a call for a full probe and severe punishment for anyone found responsible. The requirement for state-owned enterprises to review work safety is also a sensible step to take. But that it took yet another disaster to wake up the nation to safety improvement is regrettable.