More than 40 people were burned -- 16 severely -- in a chemical explosion in a factory producing calcium carbide in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on last Thursday.
Raw materials in a gaseous state exploded from a smelting furnace, injuring 41 employees.
The majority of casualties were immediately taken to a local hospital in Qingtongxia -- where the factory is located -- while the 16 extensively burnt victims were transported to a specialist hospital affiliated with the Ningxia Medical Academy.
According to Wang Wandong, heading doctor of the medical team treating the patients, nine victims received life-threatening burns -- one has suffered 100 percent burns and two have 99 percent of burns.
Monday, 10 casualties had trachea incision operations to help them breathe.
Over the weekend, two medical experts from Beijing came to Yinchuan, the capital of the region, to assist local doctors in making the operations.
Doctor Wang said his hospital had mobilized all its resources to provide the casualties with special treatment and care.
The other 25 slightly and moderately wounded casualties remain in hospital, and are said to be in stable conditions.
Nineteen of the 41 bought insurance, and the People's Insurance Company has paid 200,000 yuan (US$24,200) to them.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, and the local government has taken measures to strengthen personal safety in such surroundings.
(People's Daily December 11, 2001)
