Xi urges work safety check after fatal blasts

Xi Jinping listens to work reports on rescue efforts following Friday's oil pipeline blast in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, on the afternoon of Nov 24, 2013. Fifty-two people were confirmed dead in the blast.[Photo/xinhuanet.com]

JINAN -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered a large-scale production safety check and warned various industries to learn the lesson after Friday's fatal explosions from a leaking pipeline.

Xi made the comments Sunday in Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong Province where two fatal blasts triggered by a crude oil leak from an old pipeline on Friday left at least 52 dead.

Xi inspected the rescue work and heard reports on the management of the accident.

"This accident once again sounded an alarm for us that production safety must be ensured without loosening hold. Otherwise, it will bring irredeemable loss for the country and the people," Xi said, urging various industries to improve safety supervision and preventive measures.

Xi stressed that investigation and management of the accident should be accelerated and people involved must be handled in accordance with the law.

"A large-scale work safety check should be launched... with inspectors going deep into the production sites anonymously and unannounced," Xi said, urging a focus on underground oil and gas pipeline network.

Meanwhile, Xi called for utmost efforts in treating the wounded, arranging the funeral affairs of the victims, comforting their relatives and settling local people's life.

On Sunday afternoon, Xi visited some of the injured people and medical staff in the Huangdao branch of the hospital affiliated with the Medical College of Qingdao University.

Xi shook hands with some patients and asked about their conditions, encouraging them to cooperate with doctors in the treatments and be at ease in the recovery process.

Offering condolences to the family members of victims who died in the accident, Xi vowed that the Party and the government will make the utmost efforts to secure their life and work while ordering related departments to carry out detailed follow-up arrangements family by family.

According to Xi, Party and government officials at all levels should stick to work safety and give priority to people's lives, and various companies must follow strict safety standards when running businesses.

Xi urged all companies to pay adequate attention to safety investments, safety training, grassroots management and emergency rescue and relief under the strict supervision from governments at all levels.