30,000 clash with police in village pollution riot

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Scmp) – A village in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, erupted in a massive riot on Sunday when over 30,000 villagers clashed with police who were disrupting a protest against pollution.

Reports that police had killed some of the elderly women protesters sparked the chaos in Hua Xi village in Dongyang. More than 50 government vehicles, including 14 cars and at least 40 buses, were turned over and destroyed. A total of 128 people were sent to the hospital for treatment, and 36 were admitted for longer-term care.

Residents said since the 13 chemical plants were erected in 2001, the pollution had affected the environment so badly that the soil was barren and local vegetables inedible.
asianews.it