Schools resume classes after oil pipeline blast

QINGDAO - Most schools and kindergartens have resumed classes after Friday's oil pipeline blast in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, local authorities said Monday.

No casualties of students or teachers have been reported following the explosions at an underground pipeline operated by Sinopec in Huangdao District of Qingdao, according to the district's education bureau.

Crude oil began leaking from the pipeline at 3:00 am Friday. The valves of the Huangdao oil warehouse were shut about 15 minutes later.

The oil spill then flowed into the city's rainwater pipe network, which empties into Jiaozhou Bay. Explosions occurred at two locations at around 10:30 am Friday when workers were clearing the spill.

The school buildings of one middle school in the district were seriously damaged during the explosions. Education authorities have arranged psychological counseling for students and teaching staff.

All other 18 schools and kindergartens in the district resumed classes on Monday.

As of Monday noon, the death toll from the blast had risen to 55, with nine people still missing and 136 hospitalized.

As of Monday morning, the blood supply in Qingdao was sufficient for clinical demand after more than 950 people in the city donated more than 340,000 ml of blood in the wake of the incident.