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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pollution turns Chinese river red | Pollution turns Chinese river red |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Water supplies to about 200,000 people in central China have been contaminated by pollution, which has turned branches of a major river system red. | Water supplies to about 200,000 people in central China have been contaminated by pollution, which has turned branches of a major river system red. |
| At least three tributaries of the Han river - a branch of the Yangtze - have been affected. | At least three tributaries of the Han river - a branch of the Yangtze - have been affected. |
| State media reported high levels of chemicals in the water. | State media reported high levels of chemicals in the water. |
| China is increasingly concerned about its environment. A recent ban on plastic bags has led to the country's largest bag factory shutting down. | China is increasingly concerned about its environment. A recent ban on plastic bags has led to the country's largest bag factory shutting down. |
| The Xinglong, Tianguan and Dongjing rivers were all affected by the pollution, according to the state news agency Xinhua. | The Xinglong, Tianguan and Dongjing rivers were all affected by the pollution, according to the state news agency Xinhua. |
| A chemical spill is thought be the cause, but the source has not yet been identified and an investigation has been launched. | A chemical spill is thought be the cause, but the source has not yet been identified and an investigation has been launched. |
| Gao Qijin, a water company official in Xinguo, Jianli County, told Xinhua that the water in the Dongjing river had become red with large amounts of bubbles. | Gao Qijin, a water company official in Xinguo, Jianli County, told Xinhua that the water in the Dongjing river had become red with large amounts of bubbles. |
| Mr Gao said the company had detected the pollution on Sunday and immediately stopped drawing water from the river. | Mr Gao said the company had detected the pollution on Sunday and immediately stopped drawing water from the river. |
| Gates closed | Gates closed |
| People have had to use the limited alternative water supplies | |
| About 60,000 people in Xinguo have been left without running water as a result of the incident. | About 60,000 people in Xinguo have been left without running water as a result of the incident. |
| They are reportedly relying on bottled water and limited underground supplies. | They are reportedly relying on bottled water and limited underground supplies. |
| Xinhua reported that five schools were closed and others were unable to provide food for their students. | Xinhua reported that five schools were closed and others were unable to provide food for their students. |
| Zheng Jiarong, vice mayor of Qianjiang city, said water companies in five towns had been ordered to stop drawing supplies from the rivers. | Zheng Jiarong, vice mayor of Qianjiang city, said water companies in five towns had been ordered to stop drawing supplies from the rivers. |
| Local officials have closed a gate connecting the Han river to the tributaries, and are using water from a nearby lake to flush out the pollution. | Local officials have closed a gate connecting the Han river to the tributaries, and are using water from a nearby lake to flush out the pollution. |
| Official attempts | Official attempts |
| China has been struggling to deal with pollution along its waterways | |
| China has faced problems in the past with careless or dangerous use of chemicals for industry or agriculture. | China has faced problems in the past with careless or dangerous use of chemicals for industry or agriculture. |
| Last week a farmer in south-western Yunnan province was arrested for destroying a nearby fish farm after he spread phosphors over his fields thinking it could be a fertiliser. | Last week a farmer in south-western Yunnan province was arrested for destroying a nearby fish farm after he spread phosphors over his fields thinking it could be a fertiliser. |
| On Tuesday, China's largest producer of plastic bags announced that it had been forced to close, and lay off up to 20,000 staff. | On Tuesday, China's largest producer of plastic bags announced that it had been forced to close, and lay off up to 20,000 staff. |
| Huaqiang factory in Henan province previously produced 250,000 tonnes of plastic bags worth 2.2bn yuan ($305m;£153m) every year. | Huaqiang factory in Henan province previously produced 250,000 tonnes of plastic bags worth 2.2bn yuan ($305m;£153m) every year. |
| A management official told Xinhua that the company had no choice but to close, as 90% of its product were on a list of banned products drawn up by the government in a bid to rein in waste and pollution. /> | |
| Are you in the area? Are you affected by this story? | Are you in the area? Are you affected by this story? |
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