On August 4th, a fire broke out during the unloading of yellow phosphorus at the Yunnan Haoming Fine Phosphorus Chemical Co., Ltd. factory in Erjie Town, Jinning District, Kunming, causing the scene to be filled with large amounts of white smoke. The fire has been extinguished, and over a thousand people have been evacuated. Yellow phosphorus (also known as white phosphorus) is a highly toxic chemical substance that can easily ignite in the air.
A netizen posted a video claiming that the smoke from the fire spread from Jinning District to surrounding areas such as Yimen County, Chenggong District, and Yuxi, causing concerns among local residents about potential health hazards from inhaling the smoke.
On August 5th, a resident of Erjie Town told “The Paper” that on the afternoon of the 4th, she noticed thick white smoke rising from the surrounding industrial area, with the streets filled with patches of white smoke that resembled thin fog. Upon inhaling, she experienced a noticeable sore throat and discomfort. For her own safety, she temporarily relocated to Kunming city center for shelter in the evening of the same day.
According to a report from the Jinning District Government of Kunming on the 5th, the fire was extinguished at 10:07 pm on the 4th without causing any casualties. A total of 1,257 employees from the factory and nearby residents were evacuated, and the company involved immediately ceased production and operation. The specific cause of the accident is currently under comprehensive investigation and verification.
The report stated that the accident triggered the burning of yellow phosphorus, and the resulting smoke temporarily affected the local air quality. The ecological environment department promptly set up monitoring points for emergency monitoring. The monitoring showed an increase in the concentration of phosphorus pentoxide in the air in the affected area. Measures such as “cutting off pollution sources” have been taken, and as of 8:00 am on August 5th, the concentration has shown a decreasing trend. Phosphorus pentoxide smoke has a certain irritant effect on the eyes, nose, and respiratory mucosa, and short-term exposure may cause dry throat, coughing, dryness in the eyes, and other discomfort.
According to the Gansu Province Science and Technology Popularization Association, whether it is red phosphorus or white phosphorus, the burning products are both phosphorus pentoxide. Phosphorus pentoxide has strong corrosiveness and toxicity, and contact with the eyes or skin can cause severe irritation or chemical burns. The main component of the large white smoke is phosphorus pentoxide, and excessive ingestion or inhalation can lead to phosphorus poisoning, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, death.
Yunnan Haoming Fine Phosphorus Chemical Co., Ltd. was established in 2011 and is located in Limo Village, Erjie Town, Jinning District (Jinning Industrial Park Erjie Base). The company currently has fixed assets of 134 million yuan and an annual production capacity of 12,000 tons of yellow phosphorus.
“The Paper” reported that the company had been fined by the ecological environment department on multiple occasions in the past.
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