From Southern Metropolis Daily, translated by CDT:
On September 6, in Tongxin County of Ningxia province, nine rain rockets were fired to alleviate drought. One of the rockets fell and injured a migrant worker.
The victim is named Li Wenqing, 38. At 5 am that day, it suddenly rained very hard. Migrant workers who constructed the Xihe bridge ran to their sheds and hid from the rain. Around 6:00am, loud thunder cracked three times. Then one rain rocket fell, went through the shed and directly stuck into the back of Li, who was still sleeping under a bed cover. Li fainted right away.
Some workers sent Li to Tongxin County Hospital. They found the diameter of the rocket is about 10 centimeters, and the rocket is about one meter long. The hospital was unable to remove the huge shells. They managed to dismantle the latter half of the rocket, but the first half still remained in Li’s body. Then he was sent to the Ningxia Medical College Hospital for treatment. On the next day of 7th Li had a three-hours surgery. The 30 centimeter long shell fragments were removed.
An official from the weather bureau of Tongxin County said rain shells are military products, which are not 100% safe. The safety rate is about 97%.
He admitted launching 9 rain rockets. Three were fired to Haiyuan region where the migrant worker was. This rocket is designed so its head and body will fall separately. Also they thought the region was an open area, and did not expect a temporary construction site. The rockets used to fall into other residential areas, but never injured people.
He said this is purely an accident. The rocket’s malfunction may be due to the failure to open the parachute which caused the accident. He also said related departments will deal with the aftermath of the incident and pay for Li’s medical expenses.
So far Li has been transferred to the ICU of the Ningxia Medical College Hospital for his lung injury.
