On 28 July, 6:08pm, an explosion tore apart the workshop of the Guoxi Firework Factory in Xinji, Hebei Province, and leveled the factory to the ground. According to a local official, up to now at least 29 people are confirmed dead, while tens are injured or missing. To learn more about the situation, please listen to this interview with a villager of Guoxi Village, where the factory is located:
Villager:
Around 4:00am they started to clear the site they started to clear it at dawn. Those who could get out of it [the blaze] escaped with their lives; those who couldnt are still trapped inside. Most of them are aged around 17 to 18, or 18 to 19 they had graduated from junior high school and unwilling to work on the farm. I tell you this - Xinji City Hospital No.1 and No2 are almost all filled with injured workers from this accident. You will know more if you visit any of the hospitals.
Another villager from Guoxi Village who just came home from the site said that a girl aged less than 20 years in the neighbourhood worked in the firework factory and her whereabouts is still uncertain:
Villager:
I just came back from the site. The soldiers have pitched tents along the ruins. The army and Public Security Officers are all there. A girl in the neighbourhood was [presumably] killed in the accident. Shes not yet 20, and just graduated from secondary school. Shes still missing. No one knows whether shes dead or alive. Last night I looked for her all night with her family, but we still couldnt find her... We visited the hospital too, but all the injured have suffered massive burns the survivors have all been burnt beyond recognition.
Han Dongfang [Han]:
Is the boss a native of the area or from outside?
Villager:
Some come from the local town and some from other places. There are several shareholders. Two of them may probably be dead. It is said that the factory was examined yesterday or the day before yesterday how did the accident just happen then!?
When CLB spoke to Director Li from the Guoxi Village Committee, he said that it is still not known how many people died in the accident:
Director Li:
The rescue work hasnt finished yet.
Han:
How many people actually died in the accident?
Director Li:
Its still uncertain. Now theres still no exact figure. In our village, probably three are dead. Two of them are confirmed dead; the other one cant be found.
Chairman Wang from the Xinji General Trade Union told us in an interview that 29 people are now confirmed dead, but the figure of the missing is still unknown and there is not an exact figure on people admitted to hospital:
Chairman Wang:
Basically, 29 are now confirmed dead.
Han:
Dead?
Chairman Wang:
Right. Right. Around 91 or 100 injured workers were sent to the hospital Im still not sure about the exact figure.
Han:
Anybody missing or not found?
Chairman Wang:
Yes, but the figure is not certain yet. The Secretary of the Provincial Committee and the Governor are there. The State Trade Union and the National Bureau of Supervision and Management on Production Safety have also come here too.
Han:
Is there any trade union branch in the factory?
Chairman Wang:
Yes.
Han:
When was it established?
Chairman Wang:
Around 1999 or 2000.
Han:
Has the Trade Union approached the victims families?
Chairman Wang:
Not yet...
Han:
Has the Trade Union got any plan to help the victims families claim compensation?
Chairman Wang:
We havent thought of this yet. Now our main task is to rescue people. The identification has not yet started officially. Even the identity of some dead bodies hasnt been confirmed.
A firework worker crawled out of the ruin and barely escaped with his life after the explosion told us that he worked together with 2 other workers and one female workers was crushed and trapped inside:
Worker:
When the blast came, it almost deafened me, just like an earthquake.
Han:
Like an earthquake?
Worker:
Right.
Han:
How far are you from the centre of explosion?
Worker:
Tens of metres. Couldnt see anything dirt and smoke everywhere; couldnt see anything. Then the building collapsed.
Han:
The building above collapsed?
Worker:
Yes. The whole building collapsed. At that time I was buried under the debris.
Han:
At that moment you were buried inside?
Worker:
Yes. Only my upper body was above the ground. At last I struggled and managed to crawl out of it myself.
Han:
You struggled to free yourself?
Worker:
Right.
Han:
How many workers were there working with you?
Worker:
Those working with me.
Han:
Yes, those working with you?
Worker:
Well, in the building there was still a female comrade, who was probably dead. She was buried deep under the ground when the building collapsed.
This worker also pointed out that the factory had a very strict safety inspection policy, but it didnt obtain labour and accident insurance for the workers. The workers in the factory also didnt sign a contract with the factory.
Worker:
Usually there is safety inspection everyday. Inspectors come to supervise the production everyday.
Han:
Did the factory obtain labour insurance and accident insurance for the worker?
Worker:
Im not sure about this.
Han:
Then have you signed a contract with the factory?
Worker:
No.
Han:
How can the salary be calculated if there is no contract?
Worker:
Do more and get more money; do less and get less.
Han:
Paid in piece-rate?
Worker:
Right.
Han:
How many rest-days do you get every month?
Worker:
No rest.
Han:
You work everyday!
Workers:
Right.
Han:
How many hours do you work a day?
Worker:
More than ten hours.
Han:
Then how much can you get for a month?
Worker:
If I waste no time, I can get RMB 500-600 a month.
Han:
Not a single day of rest for a whole month, and working for more than ten hours a day all you get is only RMB 500-600!
Worker:
Right. For 8 working hours, one can only get RMB 15-16 per day.
Han:
Is there any trade union in the factory?
Worker:
Trade Union
No such thing. No.
In a voice choked with sobs, a villager from Nijiazhuang told me that her niece who was less than 20 died in the accident. The family didnt know whether or not the factory had obtained accident insurance for her, and they knew nothing about regulations on compensation. The government only told the family to cremate the corpse in the afternoon of 29 July.
Han:
Is there any member of your family working in the factory?
Villager:
Yes.
Han:
Did they escape?
Villager:
Dead. How should I say
oh forget it!
Han:
Do you know anything about legal procedures for compensation?
Villager:
We still dont know if they (the factory) have secured insurance for them (the workers).
Han:
Has the factory obtained insurance for them?
Villager:
Were not sure. You know they (the government) only asked us to cremate the body this afternoon (sobbing)
Im her uncle (sobbing)
Han:
Youre her uncle?
Villager:
Right. My own niece.
Han:
Shes your niece?
Villager:
Right. My own niece (sobbing).
Han:
Has the government sent anyone to your place?
Villager:
Oh
for the time being no (sobbing)
Up until now not a single person came here (weeping bitterly) Sorry. Goodbye.
According to figures from the National Bureau of Supervision and Management on Production Safety, there were altogether 487,402 accidents in the first half of 2003, including accidents in the following enterprises; coalmines, non-coal mining of mountains and non-mineral mining of mountains, and traffic accidents [on the road and at sea], fire hazards and railway accidents nationwide, with 60,292 dead.