Officials: Water supply and air quality safety in quake zone

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 05-24-2008 10:16

Officials in quake-hit areas are stepping up efforts to monitor the environment. At stake are the safety of the local water supply and air quality. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has also announced the discovery of chemical leaks, but says none of them has caused harm.

A reassuring message: All nuclear facilities in Sichuan are safe.

Wu Xiaoqing, Vice Minister of Environ. Protection.

Wu Xiaoqing, Vice Minister of Environ. Protection, said, "We've made an all-out effort to eliminate environmental dangers. There have been no secondary geological incidents so far."

Immediately after the quake, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and local environment departments dispatched experts to examine all nuclear facilities in the province. As of noon on Thursday, they had identified 50 radiation sources and moved 35 to safe areas. They're now working on the remaining 15.

Vice Environment Minister Wu Xiaoqing said the ministry has received four reports of leaking from chemical companies in Sichuan. The chemicals include acid and phosphorous from chemical plants, and liquid ammonia from a meat plant. But he says the leakage had been harmless.