Changzhi mayor apologises for silence over aniline spill in Zhuozhang River
Shanxi city chief blames five-day silence over leak into river on 'insufficient understanding'
A Shanxi mayor has issued a public apology for waiting days to report a toxic spill into a river that serves as a source of drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people.
The statement by Changzhi Mayor Zhang Bao follows a days-long public uproar over the aniline leak at a chemical plant on the Zhuozhang River last Monday, which was not publicly disclosed for five days.
"I deeply apologise for this, which was the result of insufficient understanding and vigilance about environmental pollution events," Zhang said, according to the People's Daily website.
Zhang's apology comes amid widespread internet criticism of acting Shanxi governor Li Xiaopeng , the son of former hardline premier Li Peng , who was already under fire for authorities' reluctance to confirm a deadly Christmas Day explosion at a Linfen construction site.
In the Changzhi case, authorities did not notify residents about the nine-tonne chemical leak until Saturday, when Handan city, downstream in Hebei province, suspended water supplies, triggering panic buying of bottled water.
Changzhi authorities had previously denied any reporting delay, saying they were not obligated to issue a warning until pollutants had spread beyond their jurisdiction.