Dozens Injured And 14 Killed From Molten Aluminum Lead In Shandong Foundry

Published by MAC on 2007-08-15
Source: Interfax China Metals

Dozens injured and 14 killed from molten aluminum lead in Shandong foundry

An accident involving a molten aluminium leak at an aluminum foundry in Shandong Province's Zouping city left 14 workers dead and 59 injured, as of 10:00 a.m. on August 20,according to a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

The molten aluminium leak began at 8:10 p.m.the previous day, at Weiqiao Pioneering Group's Zouping aluminum foundry. Harmful vapour, created as the 900 degrees Celsius molten aluminium came into contact with water coolant, exploded through the plant ceiling and windows, injuring workers in the foundry and in an adjacent workshop.

By 6:30 a.m., the accident had left nine workers dead and 64 injured. However, five of the injured workers subsequently died in hospital from their injuries.

"Rescue work has been underway since last night, and all injured workers have been sent to hospital. The cause of the accident is still under investigation," a company official, surnamed Chen, told Interfax.

Officials from the Zouping Municipal Administration of Work Safety were not available for comment at the time.

Weiqiao Pioneering Group is a privately owned aluminum producer in Shandong Province, and has an annual capacity of 150,000 tons of electrolytic aluminum and 1.6 million tons of alumina.

[soruce: Interfax China Metals, 24 August 2007]