Workers cleaning the burned chemical warehouse in Guangzhou

(Photo: Nanfang Daily)

The 16,000 citizens evacuated after the chemical warehouse fire in Tianhe district of Guangzhou yesterday (May 11) have all returned home. 11 citizens are still in hospital, all out of danger, according to the latest report of Nanfang Daily.

Since Thursday (May 11) afternoon, 74 citizens and firefighter in total were sent to local hospitals, 63 of them have been discharged, 11 still stay in hospital now.

The cause for the fire was not yet known, but some witnesses blamed the warehouse staff's mishandling of the chemicals.

The evacuees were allowed to return home Thursday after the municipal environmental protection authorities declared there was no danger posed by the leakage of poisonous gas.

(Photo: Nanfang Daily)

The chemical warehouse on Daguan Road in Tianhe District housed more than 50 tons of rongalite and 100 tons of other inflammable chemicals. There is possibility of a self-ignition fire, and the cause of the accident is under investigation, said an official from Guangzhou Work Safety Administration.

Guangzhou Environmental Protection Bureau claimed the accident did not heavily pollute the environment.

Some college students in hospital (Photo: Nanfang Daily)

Editor: Yan