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Blast rips through gas station in north China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-20 20:43

HOHHOT -- A series of oil tank blasts ripped through a gas station in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China on Saturday, but no casualties were reported, firefighters said.

Three explosions were heard at about 9 a.m. at Wanxin gas station in the northern suburb of Dalad Banner (prefecture), said Liu Dan, who was working in the gas station.

Two tanks carrying some 60 tonnes of diesel oil were filling the fuel into an underground cellar in the backyard of the station when the explosions happened.

Strong flames burst out and heavy smoke was seen blanketing the sky.

The oil tanks were burnt down and part of the roof of the gas station was ruined.

The blaze was put out by Saturday afternoon.

The station belonged to the privately-run Shengda commerce and trade company, which is based in Dalad. It covers about 5,000 square meters and is more than 200 kilometers southwest of Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia.

Gas station manager Zhang Cunliang and the two tank drivers, who fled after the accident, returned to the site of the accident soon after. Police and work safety watchdog officials were interrogating them.

There has been no report of casualties. The station remained cordoned off as of noon.