31 killed, nine missing in Chinese tunnel blast

Originally published on March 13, 2014

Investigators uncovered details of a truck collision that triggered a deadly tunnel explosion, killing 31 people near Jincheng, China.

The accident took place nearly two weeks ago on March 1 when a methanol tanker rear-ended another parked tanker during traffic jam in a Shanxi province tunnel.

The front truck attempted to pull forward to disengage the two trucks. By that time, methanol leaking from the tank was spreading in the tunnel and catching fire. Drivers of both trucks and their accompanying security guards fled the scene without notifying the police or other drivers.


The fire spread through the 800-metre tunnel, lighting up coal trucks and other vehicles as smoke filled the passageway without ventilation facilities. Xinhua reported that the fire hydrant and emergency escape shaft were malfunctioning.

One natural gas tanker exploded about 100 minutes after the collision, destroying all 42 vehicles in the tunnel. Forty-eight people managed to escape before the explosion took place. In the latest toll, 31 people were killed and nine are still missing.

When the accident happened on March 1, initial reports said that six were missing and 12 were injured. The death toll was updated to 16 on Wednesday.