Water quality recovers after benzene spill

CHANGSHA - The water quality of a river in Central China's Hunan province has recovered from a benzene spill last Friday, with precautionary measures implemented to prevent further leaks.

The source of the leak was promptly stopped and the water treated, with the river's water quality testing "safe" as of Sunday, a statement from the Zixing municipal publicity department said.

About 200 kg of crude liquid benzene leaked from a chemical storage facility in the city of Zixing last Friday, with 60 kg leaking into the river.

The storage facility belonged to Zixingkesheng Chemical Co, Ltd., and it is only 30 meters from the Baoyuan river. The company's operations had been suspended for two months prior to the spill, the statement said.

Authorities have implemented precautionary measures, such as building land barriers and rain shields, relocating contaminated soil and sealing tainted rocks with cement, in the area around the storage facility, as heavy rains were expected to hit the area, the statement said.

The government of Zixing has also ordered city-wide industrial safety checks.