Pudong gas blast hits international headlines

They say bad news travels fast. That Pudong gas blast we told you about on Saturday has made it to international news. The Associated Press, Reuters, the International Herald Tribune, BBC, Times of India, ABC (Australia) all reported on the blast.

The AP reports that four deaths have been confirmed and more than two dozen people were injured from the explosion. Our hearts go out to the family of the 29 year old cyclist from Anhui that was struck dead by the flying debris. He was one kilometre away from the blast.

Xinhua has been quick to report that improper work practices were to blame for the freak accident:

Operations at the gas station, an outlet of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) located at No. 909, Third Pudong Road in Pudong New District, had been suspended since Nov. 11 for a safety inspection.

The underground gas tanks needed to be pressurized to carry out the inspection, said an official with the municipal department of publicity. The official, who declined to give his name, said there had been residual gas in the tanks, leading to the explosion at 7:50 a.m. Saturday.

ADDENDUM: Shanghai blogger Wang Jianshuo (and CEO of Kijiji China) was shocked to read the news because he lives in the neighbourhood and this is one of the petrol stations he often goes to. Thank goodness Jianshuo wasn't anywhere near the freak accident or Shanghai's infinitesimally Lilliputian blogosphere would have lost one of its most prolific voices.

MORE PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP