Rescuers comb for victims of toxic gas leak
( 2003-12-26 16:44) (Xinhua)
Rescuers increased to 1,500 Friday, searching for survivors in villages hit
by toxic gas caused by a blowout Tuesday in a gas field in Chongqing
Municipality.
The rescuers, made up of police, armed police, firemen and locals, were
divided into 82 groups with each having at least one local guide, an ambulance
and a vehicle.
So far, 191 people have been confirmed dead since the blowout occurred on
Tuesday night. The search will cover an area with a diameter of 10 kilometers
circling the disaster site.
Road conditions in the mountainous area are difficult. Before setting off,
fire engines, ambulances and vehicles with relief materials first convened in
the morning and the site showed three distinct colors, red for gas field staff,
green for armed police and black for police.
By 10 a.m. Friday, the rescue teams had passed through the center of the gas
blowout and headed for other places.
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