Shanxi Chemical Leak Not Reported 'Because Amount Was Underestimated'

(Beijing) – A city government in Shanxi Province hid information about a chemical spill into a river because the amount leaked was underestimated, officials say.

A broken pipe in a chemical factory on December 31 caused the leak of 38.7 tons of aniline, which is used to make industrial chemicals and is toxic to humans.

However, the public and the provincial government learned about the leak five days after it occurred.