[Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy report: "Suspected Explosion of Military Aircraft in Wuhan Causes Huge Sound, Alarms Residents"]

(5 Dec 2009, 1000 hours) - This Centre has learned that the sound of a huge explosion was heard at about 0036 hours early this morning in the Wuhan area. Tens of thousands of Wuhan residents heard it. Some residents had the glass in their windows broken, and doors which were fully closed were blown open by the sound wave. The huge sound alarmed city residents. Some thought it was an earthquake and ran out of their houses. Following the huge sound, city residents inquired at 110 [police phone], but the Public Security organization indicated it had already checked with the earthquake department and found no earthquake had occurred in Wuhan.

Some city residents say the huge sound was from an explosion at the Baishazhou Nuclear Power Station. According to another report, aircraft collided and crashed into a lake. This centre sent a message to organizations including the duty office of the Party Committee of Wuhan City and the duty office of the city government. The people working there said they were trying to find out the cause of the noise. A worker at the Office of Emergencies of Wuhan City indicated that it was not out of the question that the noise was from a military aircraft accident. A person who works in the news media in the Wuhan area told this Centre that the huge sound heard early this morning must have been from a military aircraft accident, but it was impossible to find out any details.

Source: Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Hong Kong, in Chinese 5 Dec 09

ab21bded