UN hazardous waste expert criticises Chinese authorities' handling of Tianjin blasts disaster

More transparency from the Chinese authorities on the handling and storage of hazardous waste could have mitigated, or possibly even prevented, the disaster in Tianjin, according to a UN expert.

About 700 tonnes of highly toxic sodium cyanide were at the site devastated by major blasts last week, which killed at least 114 people, with fears rising that spreading pollution could cause further suffering.

“The lack of information when needed, information that could have mitigated or perhaps even prevented this disaster, is truly tragic,” said Baskut Tuncak, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes.

“Moreover, the reported restrictions on public access to health and safety information and freedom of the press in the aftermath are deeply disturbing, particularly to the extent it risks increasing the number of victims of this disaster,” he added.

Tuncak called on the Communist government to show complete transparency in the investigation of the chemical disaster in the northern port.