Authorities: Water not tainted after ship sinking, China

Drinking water has not been affected after a cargo vessel sank in the Yangtze River, authorities in east China's Jiangsu Province said on Monday. The sinking had prompted some citizens to buy bottled water as they panicked over water pollution. Monitoring of water of the Yuangu Water Plant, which is closest to the site of the sinking, and five other locations downstream showed that water was not polluted, said the publicity authorities of Nanjing, the provincial capital of Jiangsu. The vessel, "Xinchuan 8," loaded with 12,500 tonnes of limestone, sank in the river on Sunday afternoon after hitting one of the piers of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, when it was trying to pass through. All the 18 crew members were rescued. Many citizens in downstream Yizheng, Yangzhou City, rushed to supermarkets to buy bottled water after rumors spread that a fuel leak polluted the river and the water supply would be cut. The Yangzhou Tap Water Company said workers were taking samples every half an hour at the water source area and tests showed the quality was normal. The company said it has increased the volume of activated carbon for filtration in production, to prevent possible pollution of the water. Work began on Monday to clear the fuel spill at the sinking site, said the Nanjing Maritime Bureau. A plan to salvage the vessel is being made.