Maxi explosion in China, the chemical plants alarm is back: 5 deaths and irressable air in Weifang

A powerful deflagration has shaken, on Tuesday 27 May, the Chinese city of Weifangin the eastern province of Shandong. Just before noon, the explosion in a chemical system He caused the death of at least five people, while six are dispersed and nineteen were injured. The episode, documented by videos spread on Chinese social networks and verified by international agencies, shows columns of black smoke and orange climbing to the sky, windows broken at miles away and a population once again exposed to invisible dangers.

The system involved, managed by Gaomi Youdao Chemicalis found in an industrial park that houses other production activities, including textile and mechanical companies. It produces chemical components used in pesticides and pharmaceutical products. According to the state issuer CCTV and from the newspaper Beijing Newsover 230 rescuers intervened on the spot, while the firefighters worked hours to contain the flames and secure the area.

Meanwhile, Weifang’s environment and ecology office sent a team to monitor air quality. The results are not yet available, but the authorities have already recommended residents to wear protective masks. A worrying signal, which recalls memory Previous environmental disasterslike the explosions of Ningxia in 2024 and of Jiangxi In 2023. The most dramatic comparison remains, however, the one with Tianjinwhere over 170 people died in 2015 from a double explosion in a deposit of chemical materials.

Although the Chinese rules on storage and management of dangerous substances have been tightened in the following years, accidents have not stopped. The latest report of the Provincial Environmental Commission – attached to the investigation into the accident – indicates that in many industrial areas they continue to Missing updated security protocols and effective control tools.

“It is not only a problem of safety at work, but a permanent environmental emergency,” explains an expert in the Chinese environmental sector who asked for anonymity. “Every time a chemical system explodes, thousands of people breathe unknown substances, often carcinogenic, without knowing when the alarm will end or what consequences to health”.

According to data collected by independent organizations, Only in 2024 at least 18 accidents occurred relevant in chemical systems throughout China. Of these, more than half has led to spills of toxic substances or damage to aquifers and nearby agricultural land. The absence of transparency in official investigations and the reluctance to disseminate clear information increases the distrust of citizens towards local authorities.

Meanwhile, a Weifangthe air is still full of smoke and fear. The residents told the AP Agency of torn windows, trembling houses and a roar “similar to an earthquake”. Some witnesses report that the smoke was visible even kilometers away.