China criticizes local officials over toxic slick

An explosion at a Jilin chemical plant on November 13 poured 100 tons of cancer-causing benzene compounds into the Songhua River. But the State Environmental Protection Administration said from November 14 to 17 it received no reports from Jilin provincial authorities, the China Daily reported on Friday.

That meant the "best opportunity" to control the spill had been lost, the state-run newspaper quoted Administration Vice-Minister Wang Yuqing as telling a national teleconference.

"A reckless pursuit of economic growth and a lack of emergency response mechanisms have seen China experiencing a high rate of environmental disasters," Wang was quoted as saying.