In a country where mining accidents of every type are tragically far too frequent, the blowout of the natural gas well near Chongqing is horrific and it is being reported so. But, like every other nation in a time of disaster, for those who have to work in its immediate aftermath, there is that special sense of camaraderie and achievement at every small level of success in dealing with the tragedy. It is the same here, in the ancient, but so new Middle Kingdom.
Preparations for the capping operation started Friday evening at the gas field. Reporters were ordered to stay at least four kilometers away.
The operation, originally set for 10:00 am Friday, was postponed by one day in order to complete the evacuation of non-essential personnel.
Over 100 medical workers and anti-chemical warfare corps soldiers started a large-scale disinfection of the gas blowout site and eight nearby villages soon after the capping operation was completed Saturday morning.
Samples of plants and water were taken away for examination by the local environmental protection department.
Local people might be allowed to return home within days, after the environment is cleaned and strict protection measures are taken, local officials said.
Meteorologists also expressed optimism.
"Breezes and moderate rain in the next three days will be helpful for preventing the spread of the gas fumes," said Qiao Lin,a senior engineer with the Central Meteorological Station.
"Such weather will also help pollutants sink into the earth in areas near the gas field," Qiao said, but warned that rain would also make soil pollution worse.
With seven more bodies found in nearby areas Saturday, the gas blowout, the worst of its kind in the country, has thus far killed 198 people and poisoned over 9,000 others in Kaixian County, some 337 km northeast of Chongqing.
Of the dead, 196 were local villagers who were overcome by toxic fumes, while two were workers at the gas field, according to the rescue headquarters.
But it is feared the toll may rise as further work to search for survivors and identify casualties will be carried out in a more thorough way now that the gas leak has been contained.
More than 42,000 local people were evacuated from their villages after a high concentration of natural gas and sulfureted hydrogen quickly spread to areas within 10 km after the burst on Tuesday night.
