Surviving victims of the huge gas explosion in Chongqing, Sichuan Province that occurred on 23 December 2003 are reported to be threatening to hold community wide protests unless more work is done to secure their safety. Many villagers want to move to other areas before production is resumed at the nearby gas wells.

The deadly explosion which caused a cloud of poisonous gas [believed to be hydrogen sulfide] killed at least 243 people in the vicinity.

According to reports, several junior officials of the Chuangdong Drilling Company, a subcontracted company under PetroChina, have now been detained.

On 11 February, some 100 villagers from Xiaoyang village in Kai county, one of the most badly affected areas, noticed that workers had began to check equipment presumably in anticipation of resuming production. Local officials later confirmed that they were thinking of reopening the gas well and were undertaking preparatory work and improving safety measures.

Villagers said they have pleaded with officials to be relocated and sent a petition with 400 signatures to the local government but have not received any response.

Many of the villagers have lost several family members in the explosion and are desperate to move,

Although many villagers have reported that they have received compensation after the accident - about 140,000 Yuan for each deceased relative, there had been little extra help in supporting basic day-to-day living. There had been little information given on what measures, if any, had been taken to prevent any future occurrences of the tragedy.

Officials were reported to have said that they were unaware of the demands for relocation or did not have the necessary power to allow the villagers to move. One official stated that the gas well would be reopened only after it was found to be safe.

This current dispute and earlier clashes over levels of compensation have occurred at Xiaoyang and there has been a heightened police presence in the village and surrounding areas.

One report stated that some 50 villagers had clashed with police officers in Zhenba Township, near Xiaoyang, on 10 January 2004. Some ten villagers had reportedly been detained.

Sources include various Chinese media and South China Morning Post

12 February 2004