Uncategorized

Southwest China chemical spill threatens water supply

A truck has overturned and spilled a powerful chemical into a river in southwest China, threatening the drinking water of more than 200,000 people, Xinhua reported on Monday.

The truck was carrying phenol, a caustic compound and used in the production of plastics and pharmaceuticals, the report said. It overturned on Saturday near the upper reaches of the Baise dam in Yunnan province.

On Monday, the chemicals were just 15 kilometres upstream from where water is piped off to supply 200,000 people, according to Xinhua.

See full story