On the early morning of January 31, a transit tanker truck from Wuzhou, Guangxi to Puyang, Henan overturned in Lingling District, Yongzhou City, Hunan. It was reported that the tanker truck leaked and spilled crude benzene into the sewer, resulting in a sudden and violent explosion around 6 p.m. The contamination from the leak entered the Xiao River, leading downstream residents to frantically rush for water.
According to the Emergency Management Bureau of Lingling District on February 1st, at 4:40 a.m. on January 31st, a transit tanker truck with license plate Shaanxi E·F5115 (trailer plate Shaanxi E·265C) overturned at the intersection of Kangji Avenue and Chaoyang Avenue in Lingling District, causing the crude benzene it was transporting to leak.
Authorities stated that the accident did not result in any casualties.
Officials also mentioned that from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the same day, they constructed 7 sections of embankments along the rainwater pipelines and creek channels to intercept the contaminated substances, and dispatched 40 vehicles to urgently clean up and transport the pollutants. Monitoring of the water quality in the Xiao River mouth and tap water has been implemented at the accident site.
The Xiao River originates from the southern foot of Yedouling, Lanshan County, Hunan Province, passing through Lanshan, Jianghua Yao Autonomous County, Jiangyong County, Dao County, Shuangpai County, and Lingling District before merging into the Xiang River at Pingdao in Yongzhou.
As of 2 a.m. on February 1st, official reports indicate that the tap water quality remains safe and controllable, and urban water supply is normal. However, local residents remain skeptical and have been rushing to supermarkets to stock up on water.
Some local residents posted videos online, stating that the hazardous materials leak explosion on Kangji Avenue in Lingling contaminated household water, severely affecting the normal living environment, and the water quality of the entire city needs to be monitored, making tap water temporarily inedible.
Other residents claimed that water trucks were seen flushing into city sewage pipes and causing an explosion with manhole covers blown off, resulting in raging fires on the roads.
According to a report by Nandu Net, on February 1st, residents near the incident site reported seeing heavy black smoke near the involved vehicle after the overturn. Many residents have been storing bottled water as a precaution.
Public records show that benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon compound, a colorless liquid with a distinctive odor at room temperature that easily evaporates. Benzene is toxic to humans, with acute exposure to high levels of benzene vapor causing acute poisoning, while long-term repeated exposure to low concentrations can lead to chronic poisoning, primarily damaging the nervous and hematopoietic systems. The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the US Environmental Protection Agency have classified benzene as a confirmed human carcinogen.
Professor Dekant from the University of Würzburg in Germany and a member of the European Commission’s expert committee on toxic chemicals, once told Deutsche Welle that the biggest threat benzene poses to humans comes from water. “Benzene is very easily exchanged between river water and groundwater, so it can easily enter groundwater systems, where it accumulates. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to also test the benzene content in groundwater.”