2010-07-19 11:53

The view above an oil spill in the Yellow Sea on Saturday. An oil pipeline explosion in the coastal city of Dalian on Friday had created a leak that has been spewing into the sea. [Tian Jingyue / Xinhua]

There are no residents within 3 km of the affected site and there is "very limited" marine farming in the area, Wu said.

Still, nearby fishermen told Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV that they are deeply concerned about how the incident will affect their businesses.

About 600 families live within 4 km from the affected site. Dalian's downtown areas were also overshadowed by smog on Saturday. The hydrocarbon density was high within a 1.2 km radius from the site of the fire, local environment authorities said.

"Till now, the air quality has not exceeded the national warning standard," Wu said, adding that the burning of the crude oil will give out more than 40 kinds of noxious vapor.

Feng Lianyong, a professor with China University of Petroleum, said that, compared with the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the incident in Dalian is "much more controllable".

Based on media reports, Feng said improper operation during oil uploading of a vessel might have caused the explosions. The blasts will only affect the harbor rather than extensive maritime areas and the reach can be seen and controlled, Feng said.

Like the scene of a 'Hollywood movie'

Xingang Harbor's Chen Zhigang said he was walking in the harbor's playground when he heard "a horrible blast" on Friday evening.

"I thought it was an earthquake," he said. He spotted smoke billowing 200 meters away from where he stood and heard the roar of the fire.

Chen and his teammates reported the fire and helped evacuate ships. All four foreign vessels including the Liberian tanker left the site safely, he said.

Chen said the first fire truck arrived at the site three minutes after they reported the blaze. Huge clouds of smoke hung over the harbor on Saturday night, he said.

Wang Wei, 22, said he was having dinner when he and his fellow firefighters were mustered. They arrived at the site of the fire before 7 pm. Wang said his right leg was burned badly in the blaze but he stuck to his post throughout the night.

Another fireman, Xiao Gao, described the site of the explosion as a "roaring inferno with flames of about 20 meters high".

"It was like the scene of a Hollywood movie," he said. "If you were there, you would not have been sure of getting out alive."