Society

Firefighters were 'struggling' in spill cleanup efforts

By Zhang Xiaomin and Chen Jia (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-22 08:04

Rescue workers try to save their colleague (left) from drowning in the oil slick while attempting to fix an underwater pump during the cleanup operation on Tuesday in Dalian, Liaoning province. [Provided to China Daily]?

DALIAN, Liaoning - Tuesday was supposed to be a big day for firefighter Zhang Liang and his new wife.

The newlywed couple, who just got married two months ago, had booked a studio to take wedding photos that day, but it was an appointment he was unable to keep. That morning, he was killed during the oil spill cleanup operation in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province.

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Two crude oil pipelines exploded in Dalian's Xingang port late last Friday, triggering a fire that lasted 15 hours until it was finally extinguished.

Zhang and his colleagues in the fire department's logistics support branch had worked for days to provide the water supply for fighting the flames.

As crude oil spilled onto the sea surface around the harbor, Zhang and his teammates had to clean the floating pump from time to time.

On Tuesday morning, Zhang and his colleague, Han Xiaoxiong, went into the water to clean the pump, despite the strong winds.

The two were swallowed by big waves at about 8:30 am. Han Xiaoxiong was rescued, but Zhang's body was found at about 2 pm that afternoon.

"It was extremely sad watching them struggling in the water," said Wang Xiaokan, a fisherman who lives nearby and witnessed the scene.

"Some firefighters rushed into the sea for the rescue. There was about 35-40 kg of oil on Han when he was pulled out. His mouth and nose were all sealed with oil. He might have died if the rescue had been 20 seconds later," Wang recalled on Wednesday.

"Zhang was only about 100 meters from the shore when he was rolled by the wave. Had it not been for the thick oil, we could have easily seen him," Wang told China Daily. "But the oil was about 40 to 50 cm thick on the sea surface at that time as the wind blew the oil near the shore."

"Zhang was wearing a jumpsuit (pants with shoes attached) while Han only wore shorts," Wang said. "Those kind of leather jumpsuits will kill you if water gets in. The water won't get out. He should not have worn that in the sea."

Han was sent to a hospital affiliated with Dalian Medical University and is still in ICU.

"He called Zhang's name when he woke up from his coma several times, but I dared not tell him of his fellow firefighter's death," Zhao Hong, the survivor's wife, told China Daily on Wednesday.

Zhao said the doctor had removed the oil from her husband's skin, but his lungs still contain oil and foreign substances, which will keep him in the ICU at least another week.

"The doctor told me he will recover if the bacterium in his lungs does not infect other organs," she said.

"I am lucky to have my husband back I am sorry to hear about his partner's death," she added.

Fire engulfed the harbor Friday evening after a blast hit an oil pipeline and triggered an explosion on an adjacent pipeline.

Cleanup efforts began on Saturday and, by Monday morning, 24 oil cleanup vessels and 800 fishing boats had collected about 460 tons of oil.

However, operations were forced to scale back on Tuesday due to strong winds and heavy rain.

More than 23 tons of oil-eating bacteria are being used to clean up the oil spill, four days after the explosion near one of China's largest oil reserve bases, according to earlier reports by Xinhua News Agency.

Zhang Liang, 25, a native of Liaoyang, Liaoning province, became a firefighter in 2003 and was promoted to a sergeant before his death. He also participated in the earthquake rescue and relief work in Sichuan province in 2008.

The Ministry of Public Security has honored Zhang Liang as a martyr for his deeds.