More than 16,000 people were allowed to return home a day after being evacuated when chemicals exploded at a warehouse in southern China's Guangzhou metropolis, state media said Friday.
Some 49 people were injured when the explosion occurred in the city's Tianhe district Wednesday evening, resulting in the evacuation of the 16,000 — 10,000 of whom were students from nearby universities, the China Daily said.
The blast happened when rain fell on a bag of sodium hydrosulfite, dropped by workers, the report said. The chemical, a bleaching agent used in the construction industry, is extremely combustible when wet.
A firefighter and a student were the two most seriously injured but were in stable condition, reports said.
A total of 74 people were send to hospital, but almost all were discharged after being treated for minor symptoms, People's Daily said.
Environmental department officials inspected the air quality in the area Thursday and determined it to be safe, allowing residents to return home.
Most evacuees spent the night at a local sports complex.
Safety standards in the handling of chemicals in many industries in China is low, causing frequent poisonings and other hazardous accidents.
The blast at the warehouse, located only about 50 meters (yards) from the busy Guangzhou-Shenzhen highway that leads to neighboring Hong Kong, resulted in the closure of the road.
