Netizens describe proposal to rehabilitate explosion crater into lake as ‘disgusting’ with many concerned the blast site will remain a toxic mess for years

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Massive explosions hit Chinese city of Tianjin – in pictures Read more

Chinese social media users are reacting with scorn at a Tianjin government idea to turn the site where twin explosions rocked the port city in August into an “eco park”.

Tianjin authorities proposed the idea to build the 24-hectare park on Friday and have called for input from the public.

The Binhua new area planning and land resources administration said a monument in memory of those who lost their lives would be “given pride of place” in the park, according to state media outlet Xinhua.

There are also plans to build primary schools and kindergartens in the area.

China to relocate almost 1,000 chemical plants in wake of Tianjin blasts Read more

But the news has been met with derision online, with netizens questioning the priorities of the local authorities and the feasibility of the plan.

“This is disgusting. They’ve just skipped over the time for accountability and gone straight to the spin,” one user wrote on Weibo, China’s Twitter.

An artist’s impression of the proposed eco park on the Binhai government Weibo features a large lake that appears to be made out of the enormous crater made by the explosion.

“Using the crater means they won’t have to waste their effort digging a lake” said one Weibo user.

“No amount of money could create such a perfect effect for a park as that explosion did,” said another.

Fergus Ryan (@fryan) “Have your say on the harbour eco park construction plan”. Binhai govt poster inviting feedback from the public. pic.twitter.com/xJn24Ncxs3

Ninety-five firefighters were among the 161 people killed when the explosions occurred, but there is speculation that the actual numbers are higher.



According to the Chinese Earthquake Administration, the first blast generated shocks equivalent to three metric tons of TNT and the second blast equivalent to 21 metric tons, leaving a gaping crater.

Tianjin explosions so huge they were visible from space Read more

“[They’re just trying to] cover up the scars, erase all traces of damage and memories,” said one Weibo user.

“They’d be better off making a few gravestones for the people responsible for this accident” said another.

The blasts occurred in a warehouse where 700 tons of sodium cyanide – a toxic chemical that can form combustible substances on contact with water – was being stored in amounts that violated safety rules.

Fires continue to erupt at the blast site, the latest on Monday, when chemicals ignited with the rain.

CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) Ecological park to be set up at site of #Tianjin blasts site. Clean-up operations have come to a close pic.twitter.com/lugfGE3XqD

Following the deadly explosions, residents have raised concerns that water and air around the site have been contaminated.

On Monday, authorities said cyanide levels in four of the 21 water-monitoring stations in the core zone exceeded the national standard, with the highest concentration 31.4 times the standard.

“They should call it a ‘chemical park’ not ‘eco park’,” said one Weibo user.

Many netizens suspect the site will remain a toxic mess for years. “Who would dare to go there?” said another Weibo user. “How could it possibly be ecological or environmental friendly?” said another.

Chen Sheng, an official with the State Council’s emergency management centre, visited the area on Tuesday and urged that toxic water be prevented from flowing into the sea, according to local media reports.

Residents of damaged properties were offered an extra inducement of 20,000 yuan if they signed compensation agreements this week.

As of Thursday, more than 9,000 households, or over half of the total number of residents affected by the blasts, had signed agreement to settle their compensation cases, according to authorities.

Tianjin blasts: Communist party insists there will be no cover-up as anger grows Read more

The political fallout continues with experts suggesting China’s president Xi Jinping suspects a “political conspiracy” behind the blasts.

Writing in the China Brief, a publication of the Washington-based thinktank the Jamestown Foundation, Chinese politics expert Will Lam said Xi called a meeting of his closest aides immediately after the blasts to “check whether there was any political motivation” behind the explosions.

The speculation was mirrored online with social media users demanding leaders take more responsibility.

“This wasn’t a natural disaster, it was man-made one born of corruption!” said one Weibo user.

“Has the right person been called to account yet? Who’s the biggest tiger behind it all?” wrote another.

Additional reporting Amber Ziye Wang and Nicole Wang.