Chinese media condemn Tianjin authorities after explosions

Chinese state media on August 17 condemned officials in the port city of Tianjin for a lack of transparency about massive explosions on the night of August 12 at a warehouse in the city that killed 114 people, injured more than 700 and devastated a large area, AFP and THX reported.

Firefighters at the scene of the explosion in Tianjin. (Source: THX/TTXVN)

Numerous editorials and commentaries have reflected the frustration of Tianjin residents, victims’ families, and “netizens” with the city government’s slow release of information following the disaster. In an effort to curb criticism of the handling and recovery of the blasts, Chinese authorities have suspended or shut down dozens of websites and hundreds of social media accounts.

The Global Times editorial said: "On the first day after the explosion, Tianjin authorities provided very little information. This is not an exception to inadequate disaster response. If local governments face a major event in the future, they should try to respond to the press regularly. A slow response can lead to countless rumors spreading. People's trust in the government will continue to decline."

Meanwhile, the state-run China Daily newspaper stressed that "many questions remain to be answered" about the blasts, which sparked fires that lasted for days and raised concerns about contamination.

An article published in the China Discipline Inspection and Supervision News of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said industrial disasters like the recent one in Tianjin have exposed serious loopholes in the implementation of safety regulations.

The article emphasized: "The explosion not only took away lives and property but also left people in a state of insecurity. Businesses and residents here had no idea that they were living next to a 'volcano' until the explosion occurred"./.

According to Vietnnamplus