Chemical Fire, Rain Hamper China Quake Recovery

PlusChemical Fire, Rain Hamper China Quake RecoveryChemical Fire, Rain Hamper China Quake RecoveryThe Associated PressA stockpile of chemicals being used to disinfect an earthquake-shattered Chinese town ignited Thursday and injured scores of soldiers doing relief work. Heavy rain also hampered troops rushing to drain a quake-spawned lake. (May 29)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] Problems continue to mount in China's earthquake recovery efforts. A stockpile of chemicals being used to disinfect a town exploded on Thursday...injuring several soldiers doing relief work.Workers had been spraying bleach on the streets and rubble to help prevent disease breakout... Thousands of people are still missing...their bodies may be buried in the debris. Rats and other scavengers have been reported in some places.China's official news agency says more than 800 people were evacuated to avoid this cloud of chlorine gas coming from the building where the cleaning supplies were being stored.On top of that...rainy conditions are making things worse for the 5 million people left homeless by the quake. The rain is hampering efforts to to drain lakes which threaten to flood nearby villages, and it could mean more landslides.The confirmed death toll from May 12 tremor has already topped 68 thousand. The government says it expects the final tally to exceed 80 thousand.

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YouTube | May 30, 2008

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