Following the Xiangshui explosion, these pesticide varieties will be affected.

At approximately 2:48 p.m. on March 21, an explosion occurred at a chemical storage tank at Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd. in Chenjiagang Town, Xiangshui County, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province. This was the first-ever major chemical accident of its kind and affected 16 nearby enterprises. Following intensive emergency response efforts, all open flames at the scene have been extinguished, and air pollutant levels remain within permissible limits. As of now, the accident has resulted in 47 fatalities, 90 critically injured, and additional injuries among some members of the public.

It is reported that the State Council has decided to establish an investigation team for the “March 21” extraordinarily serious explosion accident at Jiangsu Xiangshui Tianjiayi Company, and the investigation has already commenced. Comrade Huang Ming, Party Secretary of the Party Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management, has been appointed as the team leader.

Footage from the blast’s core area

Following the accident, Jiangsu Province has dispatched fire and rescue detachments from 12 cities, comprising a total of 73 squads, 930 firefighters and officers, 192 fire trucks, and 9 heavy engineering machines to the scene for emergency response. As of 7:00 a.m. on the 22nd, all three burning storage tanks and five active fire points had been fully extinguished.

At present, the local authorities have undertaken work in several key areas:

First, immediate on-site rescue operations were launched, with all efforts devoted to extinguishing the fire and rescuing trapped personnel.

Second, emergency medical care is being provided to the injured. At present, 3,500 medical personnel, 16 hospitals, and 90 ambulances are involved in the rescue effort, and 640 wounded individuals have been admitted for treatment.

Third, the public was properly evacuated and accommodated. To prevent secondary accidents, authorities conducted door-to-door inspections and guided more than 3,000 enterprise employees, along with nearly 1,000 residents from Sigang Village, Liugang Village, Lili Village, and other communities in Chenjiagang Town, to safe areas. Affected schools and kindergartens have temporarily suspended classes starting today.

Fourth, comprehensive environmental monitoring has been carried out. Air and water quality are being closely monitored, and the public’s drinking water supply remains unaffected.

Fifth, carry out post-accident follow-up work and promptly provide emotional support to the families of the deceased and to those injured in the accident.

Sixth, promptly compile and release information to address public concerns. The on-site command center stated that, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, the provincial Party committee, and the provincial government, it will spare no effort in carrying out accident rescue operations and follow-up work, doing its utmost to provide medical care for injured workers and members of the public.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has issued important instructions regarding the accident.

Following the accident, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council attached great importance to the situation. While en route on an overseas visit, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping immediately issued important instructions, calling on Jiangsu Province and relevant departments to mobilize all resources for emergency rescue operations, search for and rescue those trapped, provide timely medical treatment to the injured, and carry out follow-up measures to ensure social stability. He also stressed the need to strengthen monitoring and early warning systems, prevent environmental pollution, and strictly guard against secondary disasters. Furthermore, he urged a swift investigation into the cause of the accident, the timely release of authoritative information, and enhanced public opinion guidance. Xi Jinping emphasized that, in recent times, several localities have experienced a series of serious safety accidents. All regions and relevant authorities must draw profound lessons from these incidents, intensify efforts to identify and address safety hazards, rigorously enforce the responsibility system for workplace safety, resolutely prevent major and especially serious accidents, and safeguard the lives and property of the people.

Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, issued instructions calling for scientifically sound and effective search-and-rescue operations, all-out efforts to treat the injured, and measures to minimize casualties. He also urged the implementation of robust measures to control sources of danger and to prevent secondary accidents. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Emergency Management has instructed local authorities to conduct further inspections and eliminate safety hazards in key sectors, particularly those involving hazardous chemicals, while reinforcing accountability at every stage.

In accordance with instructions from Xi Jinping and requirements from Premier Li Keqiang, the Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment have each dispatched working groups to the scene to provide guidance on emergency rescue operations and environmental monitoring. The National Health Commission has assembled a national-level medical expert team, comprising specialists in critical care medicine, burn treatment, trauma surgery, neurosurgery, and psychological intervention, and sent them to the site to carry out medical rescue efforts. Leading officials from the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government are on the ground directing response and handling measures. At present, on-site rescue and medical treatment of the injured are proceeding intensively and in an orderly manner.

Introduction to Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd.

Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd., the company involved in this accident, was established in April 2007. It covers an area of approximately 220 mu and currently employs 195 workers, including 45 engineering and technical personnel. The company operates in the chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing sector and primarily produces… Pesticide , dye intermediates.

According to the business registration records, the company was registered on April 5, 2007, with Tao Zaiming as its legal representative. It has a registered capital of RMB 90 million and is currently in operation, classified under the chemical raw materials and chemical products manufacturing industry. The company’s business scope includes the production of hydroxybenzoic acid, anisole, p‑tert‑butylchlorobenzene, tert‑butyl chloride, KSS, m‑phenylenediamine, o‑phenylenediamine, p‑phenylenediamine, 1,000 t/a of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, 500 t/a of mesitylamine, 100 t/a of 2,5‑dimethylaniline, 300 t/a of 3,4‑diaminotoluene, 300 t/a of m‑diaminobenzoic acid, 200 t/a of Mo, 500 t/a of p‑toluidine, 80 t/a of 3,5‑hydroxybenzoic acid, and 30,400 t/a of 1,3‑dinitrobenzene, among other products.

Zhang Qinyue, the general manager in charge of Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd. in Xiangshui, was injured in the accident and is receiving medical treatment; all relevant personnel have been taken into custody by public security authorities.