Jilin City - River Spill After Chemical Plant Explosion

The leak was caused by a massive explosion at a PetroChina benzene factory in the city of Jilin. High levels of Benzeen and Nitrobenzeen spilled into river after the explosion. Tests have shown concentrations of the carcinogenic chemical some 30 times higher than is considered safe

• 80 km stretch of contaminated water
• 40 hours to move through
• But it was winter and the water was freezing
• 6000+ people evacuated