E China blast latest

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INTRO

First the latest on the oil pipeline blasts in the port city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

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On Sunday afternoon, the death toll from Friday's blasts rose to 52 after four bodies were found at the scene.

It's believed that 11 others are still missing in the deadly accident.

Crude oil began leaking from an underground pipeline operated by Sinopec, China's largest oil refiner, at 3:00 a.m. on Friday.

The leaked oil then flowed into the city's rainwater pipe system, which empties into Jiaozhou Bay.

Two blasts occurred at around 10:30 a.m. when workers were repairing the ruptured pipeline.

One of the blasts occurred near the leaking pipeline, while the other happened close to the site where the rainwater pipe empties into the sea.

pThe explosions ripped through roads in the district, leaving deep cracks on road surfaces, overturning vehicles parked on the roadside and shattering glass and bricks of nearby buildings.

The local government has ruled out a terror attack as the cause.

And the State Administration of Work Safety has sent a work team to the scene to guide the rescue efforts.

A total of 18,000 people have been evacuated from the district.

Electricity has been restored in all but two communities in the district.

SOUNDBITE:

"We hope the water, electricity and gas can resume soon."

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday asked for maximum efforts in the search for survivors of the blast.

He also asked local authorities to spare no effort to rescue the injured, find the cause of the accident and strengthen safety.

Premier Li Keqiang also urged local authorities to improve inspection and supervision and make sure safety procedures are followed.

The Qingdao municipal government has ordered scrutiny of the safety of its pipeline network following the accident.

The State Council, China's cabinet, has decided to establish an investigation team to find the cause of the accident and hold relevant parties accountable.

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RESCUE EFFORTS

According to provincial health authorities, at least 10 of the 136 hospitalized are still in critical condition, .

Authorities have put together expert panels to monitor the medical conditions of the ten critically injured.

Experts include provincial specialists and those dispatched by the National Health and Family Planning Commission from Beijing.

SOUNDBITE: SUN YUNBO, Hospital staff

"There are so many patients that put great pressure to our clinical reception. We have sent 43 experts and more than 90 nurses to another branch hospital to support their rescue efforts."

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

The Qingdao Environmental Protection Bureau, the city's environmental watchdog, said on Saturday that it is overseeing clean-up efforts.

The blasts have caused oil spills that extend 1,000 square meters on the road and 3,000 meters on the sea.

The bureau is monitoring air quality in and around the blast areas and sea waters.

The bureau is also seeking qualified institutions to safely dispose of the leaked oil collected from the ground and sea.

It said the air quality monitored at two sites around the blast areas had not deteriorated and is "far below" a pre-set redline.

SOUNDBITE: CHEN NING, Qingdao Environmental Protection Bureau

"Monitoring showed that sea water within 200 meters of the shoreline was covered in dispersed oily layers. It thinned further away from shore."

The Qingdao Maritime Safety Administration said it is using barricades running 3,000 meters long and 10 tons of dispersant to clean up spills that have contaminated 3,000 square meters of sea water.

The administration has also dispatched 22 oil-clearing vessels, 10 fishing boats and six patrolling vessels to help clean up crude oil that spilled into the sea.