On November 19th, a chemical plant in Huangshan, Anhui Province, experienced an explosion, with thick smoke billowing from the scene. Citizens attempting to film the incident were reprimanded. Official reports currently only confirm one fatality, without an explanation for the cause of the accident.
At around 4:00 pm on the 19th, a netizen posted a video claiming that a factory in Yanshi Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City, caught fire with a significant explosion. The video captured the scene of dark, billowing smoke rising into the sky.
At 5:12 pm on November 19th, the Huizhou Economic Development Zone Management Committee reported that a fire broke out at Anhui Xinyuan Technology Co., Ltd. at 3:17 pm and emergency measures were promptly initiated. As of the report, the fire has been brought under control.
After 8:00 pm, the Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that a fire erupted at the workshop of Anhui Xinyuan Technology Co., Ltd., and the open flames had been extinguished, resulting in one fatality. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
A mainland Chinese firefighting blogger posted under the pseudonym “Kaoshantunyanhua,” suggesting that the company in question is the world’s largest producer of epoxy diluents. According to the videos and photos from the site, it seems there was a leakage of flammable liquid, leading to a vapor explosion and subsequent fire. The burning area was extensive, forming a nearly circular red flame and producing thick black smoke visible across a large area in Huangshan.
The article highlighted that the greatest risks in chemical enterprises are leaks and explosions, particularly during maintenance periods, when such accidents are prone to occur. Personnel outside the site should be minimized as much as possible to prevent casualties resulting from explosions.
Public records indicate that Anhui Xinyuan Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2004, with its registered address at 16 Zijin Road, Circular Economy Park, Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
In a video depicting the explosion at the chemical plant, individuals filming were chastised by on-site staff for recording the incident.
Netizens ridiculed the situation, saying, “It’s supposed to be a prosperous era, but family problems cannot be aired in public.” and “Transparency in on-site information is paramount, concealing the truth is not acceptable.”
The Chinese Communist Party often tends to conceal information regarding natural disasters and accidents, with current official reports indicating only one fatality, leaving the true extent of the situation unknown.