Measures taken to curb pollution

Strong measures have been taken to avoid subsequent disasters, particularly to prevent polluted water in the chemical park from flowing out.

Cao said that thorough inspections have been conducted in chemical plants on the site to prevent further pollution.

He said that these plants stored a large amount of chemical substances, and some sulfuric acid and nitric acid was leaked from the storage tanks due to the explosion.

"Environmental experts and managers of the chemical park have been summoned to research the water treatment and environmental protection issues," said Cao.

"Details of the categories, amounts and storage methods of chemicals are being carefully examined and they'll be handled with great caution to prevent secondary disasters," he said.

Li Ganjie, minister of Ecology and Environment, also held a meeting on pollution control after the blast. He demanded a comprehensive monitoring of the local environment, and all-out efforts to clean solid waste in the park and prevent polluted waters in the park from entering the Guanhe River, which runs into the Yellow Sea. The river's estuary is only a little more than 10 km away from the park.