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China: Chongqing blowout victims receive 16 million yuan so far

Countries
China
Sources
Xinhua
Publication date

CHONGQING, Jan 5, 2004 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The headquarters for the relief operation for Chongqing gas blowout victims has paid out 16.5 million yuan (2 million US dollars) in compensation to victims, according to sources with the rescue headquarters here Monday.

The headquarters had signed 186 compensation agreements in the last three days with relatives of victims, of which 115 had been paid, said a source.

The death toll of the disaster still stood 243, said an official with the headquarters. All the victims' bodies had been identified, and 234 had been cremated.

The victims' relatives were satisfied with the compensation standards, said the official.

The rescue headquarters mobilized 102 attached departments to help victims' relatives, dealing with daily difficulties, and providing legal and psychological consultation.

The blowout took place at 10 p.m. on Dec. 23 at Chuandongbei gas field in Kaixian County, west China's Chongqing municipality, when a well burst suddenly and released a high concentration of natural gas and sulfurated hydrogen.