Posted on 03/22/2019 7:36:35 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Images of the site showed a fireball exploding, billowing clouds enveloping the area, injured people, and damage to buildings. The blast was so powerful that it knocked down factory buildings some distance away, trapping workers, according to local media.
Staff at the Henglida Chemical Factory, 3km (1.8 miles) from the explosion, said its roof collapsed as they fled, and windows and doors were blown out.
Provincial authorities said firefighters had to be brought in from across the province.
The fire was brought under control at around 03:00 local time on Friday, state TV said.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Was it a fentanyl factory?
Sounds like a plant that made benzene.
In the video, it looks like it’s very close to a cooling tower that’s typical of the ones seen at nuclear plants....
Also, the aerial shots show buildings on fire a long ways away from the blast site... very unusual pattern.
Well, if it was a legitimate enterprise, to jack up the perception, it would be called a "pharmaceutical plant".
If it was pumping out illegal and/or fraudulent drugs, then "chemical factory" would be do for a cover that would explain inflow of chemicals.
RIP.
Looks like the company descriptions are quickly being scrubbed from the net.
They were listed as a producer of various forms of Phenylene-DiAmine. That’s a chemical commonly used in many industries as a polymerization inhibitor... ie, a chemical that prevents fouling in other processes.
Generally, not all that hazardous, but... has a LOT of potential energy in the molecule.
From the looks of the damage, this was almost certainly a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Vaporization Explosion). They power in such an event is incredible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.