China chemical plant blast may hit river-Xinhua

SHANGHAI, June 15 (Reuters) Explosions today at a chemical plant in east China's Zhejiang Province could pose a threat to a river that runs through the wealthy eastern city of Wenzhou, the Xinhua news agency today said.

''Numerous explosions which were followed by minor blasts started fires that destroyed two factories'' at the Longxin chemical plant, which primarily makes hydrogen peroxide, Xinhua said.

The fires released toxic fumes and threatened a spring that feeds the Oujiang River, which flows through an area with 4.7 million people and the cities of Wenzhou and Lishui, Xinhua said.

Industrial hydrogen peroxide contains arsenic, heavy metals and other toxic ingredients that can be harmful, Xinhua said, adding the cause of the blast and its effects were still under investigation.

China is becoming more sensitive to the risks of pollution following industrial accidents, after a petrochemical plant explosion this winter released a slick into the Songhua river, which provides drinking water to many cities in Northeast China.

REUTERS SY BD2231