Recently, in Fengcheng, Yichun, Jiangxi Province, a cargo ship tragically claimed the lives of 4 individuals who suffocated to death due to inhaling toxic gases generated by fermenting corn while transferring it. The incident was initially revealed by online whistleblowers and only later officially reported by authorities.
On May 14th, netizens disclosed that a cargo ship from Anhui with 1000 tons of corn docked in Fengcheng, Yichun, where 4 people boarded to transfer the corn and tragically died after inhaling the gases produced by the corn fermentation. It was mentioned that 3 of the deceased were related, posing a poignant question about how their elders and direct relatives would cope with the loss of crucial family members.
According to reports from the Xiaoxiang Morning News, the owner of the Anhui-based cargo ship company stated that a local boat owner in Fengcheng provided mooring services, and the tragedy occurred on one of the moored ships. The mooring operations had been completed on May 9th. On May 10th, staff from the mooring service provider went to the moored ship’s cabin to start the vessel but tragically did not come back out one by one, including the boat owner offering the mooring service.
The company representative expressed astonishment, saying, “We had no idea that such a high concentration of gas would be produced in such a short time,” highlighting the extreme nature of the incident.
Following public attention, on the 15th, a joint investigation team in Fengcheng issued a report stating that on the 7th of this month, an Anhui-registered cargo ship carrying corn experienced water leakage after colliding with a navigation pier in the waters of Fengcheng, leading to some corn becoming damp. The shipowner, Mr. Yang, decided to transfer the corn kernels to a smaller boat, commencing operations on the morning of the 8th. Around 9:30 am on the 10th, Mr. Yang found the boat owner of the transfer vessel, Mr. You, and three others – Lei, You’s relative, Zhong, and Zhang, lying in the hold of the small boat containing wet corn, suspected to have died of poisoning. According to preliminary assessments, the 4 individuals died from suffocation.
Informed netizens revealed a scientific explanation behind the tragedy, stating, “When corn becomes damp, it generates a significant amount of carbon dioxide and methane, causing a certain respiratory process in a sealed environment, consuming oxygen and producing more carbon dioxide. If the concentration of carbon dioxide becomes too high, inhaling it can lead to poisoning and suffocation.” They further explained, “Damp corn accelerates plant respiration, consuming oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. Coupled with poor ventilation in the cabin, the carbon dioxide sinks down, similar to the principle of a sweet potato pit.”
The tragic incident has shed light on the dangers of working with fermented corn in confined spaces and underscores the importance of safety measures and awareness in such operations to prevent future tragedies.