CHINA-BLAST/FAMILIES-PROTEST Angry Tianjin residents say they have been ignored by the government following the massive blasts

Record ID: 143454

  • Title: CHINA-BLAST/FAMILIES-PROTEST Angry Tianjin residents say they have been ignored by the government following the massive blasts
  • Date: 18th August 2015
  • Summary: BOARDS READING (IN CHINESE):" BUY BACK! GIVE BACK OUR HOMES! PAY RESPECT TO VICTIMS!"
  • Embargoed: 2nd September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAD41Z0UILU02V6DY6G7NBNA0NW
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of angry residents whose homes were badly damaged by huge explosions last week in China's northeastern port city of Tianjin, accused the government of ignoring their plight and demanded compensation on Tuesday (August 18).
    Around 40 residents, holding signs that read "buy back (our homes)", gathered outside a hotel where an official news conference was being held and demanded compensation after their residential apartments were damaged by two huge blasts that ripped through an industrial zone late last Wednesday (August 12), killing over 100 people.
    "Estate management (people) kept saying that they are in negotiation. But now we think it's all nonsense, they just lie to everyone. We, the owners of the properties, went to the office of the letter and complaints bureau yesterday and found out the information that our community had not been reported on, nobody knew it, so they treated it as a de-populated zone," said 35-year-old resident Fang Qi.
    "(I) myself clearly experienced the strong shake of the building. So we are very worried about the overall structure of building that might have some problems. We don't want to live there anymore. So (we) hope the government can buy back (our homes)," said 35-year-old Cai Jiaqi.
    The explosions sent massive fireballs into the sky and hurled burning debris across the industrial area at the world's 10th-largest port, burning out buildings and shattering windows kilometres away.
    Soldiers and rescue workers in gas masks and hazard suits continued to search for toxic materials at the blast site, the goal is to clear the chemicals before any rain falls, which could create further toxic gas.
    Officials said environmental standards were still "basically guaranteed" and that there were contingency plans to prevent possible rainfall from creating dangerous gases or spreading contamination.
    Some 6,300 people have been displaced by the blasts.
    China's top prosecutor, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, has opened an investigation into the warehouse explosions.
    Industrial accidents are not uncommon in China after three decades of fast economic growth.
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