15,000 Evacuated After Explosion, Leak At One Of China's Largest Gas Wells

One of China's biggest natural gas wells is still leaking following a blast nearly a week ago, state media said Thursday, as the number of people reported evacuated jumped to 15,000. Two attempts to seal the leak at the well in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, which is 3,400 meters (11,220 feet) deep, have failed, Xinhua news agency said.

"Unknown conditions had arisen from deep down the well," Xinhua quoted a source with the accident response headquarters as saying.

The Luojia No. 2 natural gas well in Gaoqiao town, Kaixian county, is one of largest in the country, and the gas pressures and sulphur content in it are among the highest, Xinhua said. The well is owned by a subsidiary of China's largest oil firm, China National Petroleum Corporation. It is in the same area where a blast at another CNPC company killed 243 people in December 2003.

With the leak still not fixed, 15,000 people who live close to the well and were evacuated following Saturday's blast are still unable to return home, Xinhua said. Earlier reports had said 11,500 people had been evacuated and no explanation was given as to why the number had suddenly jumped to 15,000.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Evacuations_Continue_As_China_Gas_Well_Leaks_After_Blast.html

It is incredible what's happening there.