At 5 a.m. yesterday, a severe suffocation incident occurred at a gas construction site near the intersection of Wuzhong Avenue and Youxin Road in Suzhou City. Three workers were involved in the accident and were immediately taken to the hospital. According to reports from the local gas company and the admitting hospital, two of the workers showed no signs of life upon arrival. As of yesterday afternoon, one of the injured remained in a critical condition in the intensive care unit, while the cause of the incident is still under investigation. Authorities have already launched safety inspections and hazard assessments in the area.
The incident took place during underground operations at a greening and relocation site on the east side of Hamamatsu Road. Local residents reported that three gas workers were accidentally suffocated while working in a manhole. They were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The reporter arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, where a gas company rescue vehicle was still parked nearby. Although there were few visible signs of the accident, the reporter noticed a gray jacket, some white gloves, and various tools like oil-resistant silicone sealants and cutting wheels near a manhole cover.
A worker at the scene explained that the three workers had been operating in the manhole when they suddenly became unconscious. “We only had two workers at the well, and the third one fainted after being rescued,†he said. The incident happened early in the morning, and the gas company did not conduct any further operations after the emergency repair. By 9 a.m., several people from a nearby chemical plant said they were unaware of the accident. One resident mentioned that he first smelled gas around 7 a.m., but thought it was just a routine pipeline repair.
All three victims were migrant workers, reportedly in their late 30s. Their families were informed later in the day and arrived to retrieve the remains. According to officials from the Wuzhong District Safety Supervision Bureau, the workers were experienced and had proper licenses for gas pipeline maintenance. However, the gas company stated that the incident was not caused by a gas leak, but rather due to improper handling during the operation.
The company’s deputy general manager explained that before the incident, the gas supply had been turned off, and workers were expected to resume operations at 6 a.m. When the valves were opened, one worker was inside the manhole, and the others were not responding to calls. It was speculated that the second and third workers may have entered the manhole to try to rescue the first. According to safety protocols, workers must ventilate the area for at least five minutes and use gas detectors before entering a manhole. Failure to follow these steps can lead to dangerous situations.
Authorities are still investigating whether the asphyxiation was caused by natural gas or another substance. Major safety checks have been conducted, and the exact cause of the accident will be determined after further analysis. The incident has raised concerns about safety procedures in urban gas construction projects. The reporter will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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