On August 19th around 14:00, a detonator workshop explosion occurred at Ningxia Lingwu Shunbanda New Materials Co., Ltd., leading to at least 5 confirmed deaths.
A viral video online showed thick black smoke at the scene. By 15:35 that day, the flames were extinguished, and the risk was primarily eliminated.
According to official reports, the search and rescue operation concluded, with all 5 missing individuals from the accident being located, but all were found without vital signs. The cause of the accident is currently under further investigation.
Detonators are substances used to initiate or accelerate chemical reactions in the chemical industry, commonly employed to trigger polymerization reactions, particularly in the plastic and rubber industries. These substances often have flammable and explosive properties and can potentially lead to violent chemical reactions under specific conditions.
It is worth noting that on December 28th last year, the Ningxia Ecological Environment Department issued a notification regarding environmental issues at four companies including Shunbanda New Materials.
According to the notification, Shunbanda New Materials’ waste gas treatment facility suffered damage to one ozone catalytic device, reducing pollution control effectiveness. The company was suspected of abnormal operation of pollution control facilities and failure to revise the emergency response plan for heavy pollution weather conditions, rendering the emergency emission reduction measures infeasible.
Information from the Tianyancha APP indicates that Shunbanda New Materials was established in 2018, spanning over 100 acres. Located in the Ningdong Energy Chemical Base New Materials Industrial Park in Yinchuan City, it is a company primarily engaged in the manufacture of chemical raw materials and chemical products, with a registered capital of 100 million yuan.
Shunbanda New Materials’ business scope includes the production and sales of PVC polymerization aids (terminators, anti-sticking agents, defoamers, inhibitors, detonators).