(July 14, 2002) ‘The move is seen as a bid for accountability. One observer says the crisis points up the nation’s bureaucratic paralysis during emergencies.’

(excerpt)

Beijing: The long-term environmental impact of last month’s chemical explosion in northern China that left millions without safe drinking water remains to be seen. But the political fallout has begun. Beijing sacked its top environment official Friday in an effort to show accountability for the mishandling of the crisis. More heads are expected to roll, possibly including local party leaders in Jilin province where the petrochemical plant accident spilled 100 tons of benzene and other cancer-causing chemicals into the Songhua River. Residents of Harbin, a city of 3.8 million downstream from Jilin, were not informed about the contamination until 10 days after the accident. The 50-mile toxic slick is still making its way downstream toward the Russian border, forcing more towns and villages to shut off their taps and switch to bottled water. Some observers say the Harbin water crisis illustrates a bigger problem: China’s bureaucratic paralysis during emergencies. “This is a systemwide failure,” said Jiang Wenran, acting director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta.

Los Angeles Times, July 14, 2002