China port city cleans up pollution belt after fire (2)

A dark brown belt of crude oil and other pollution is seen in seawaters off Dalian's Xingang Harbor, July 17, 2010. (Xinhua/Ren Yong)

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

China's Central Television said the explosion happened when a 300,000-tonne Liberian tanker was unloading oil at the harbor. It said the tanker, carrying 27 sailors, left safely.

The pipelines were links between oil ships and oil tanks on land.

Dalian's downtown areas were overshadowed by smog Saturday. The environment authorities said hydrocarbon density was high within a radius of 1.2 km from the fire site.

There is no inhabitant within 3 kilometers from the site, but about 600 families live within 4 km.

Source: Xinhua
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