Govt demands chemical transportation safety

The Office of Work Safety Commission of the State Council has demanded strict safety standards when transporting dangerous chemicals, in the wake of a deadly explosion.

Enterprises transporting dangerous chemicals should maintain vehicles to a high standard, according to a statement from the office.

A traffic accident on March 1 in a tunnel linking Jincheng City in Shanxi Province and Jiyuan City in Henan Province killed 31 people and seriously injured 12. Nine people remain missing.

A tanker loaded with methanol, a poisonous and flammable liquid often used as a fuel, rear-ended another tanker. Leaking methanol from the first truck caught fire and the blaze quickly spread through the tunnel, incinerating 42 vehicles.

Local governments, departments and organizations should check road tunnels for any potential hazards, the statement said.