Heat cut off after pipeline leak

Beijing's largest heating supply company said it will gradually restore the heat supply to over 10,000 households in Shijingshan district Sunday night, after residents have been heatless for two days.

Zhang Chuandong, spokesperson of Beijing Heating Group, told the Global Times that due to a hot water leak in the main heating pipeline buried under Jin'an Bridge in northwest Shijingshan early Saturday morning, over 10,000 households had been affected.

Communities such as Haite Jiayuan, Jinding Yangguang, Jingxiuyuan, and the Bajiao and Gucheng areas have suffered a loss of central heating.

"The reason for the leak is unknown. Maybe it's because of the aging of the pipeline," said Zhang.

According to Zhang, they shut the heating pipe taps at both ends of Tianan Bridge.

"For the households far from the heating plant in Shijingshan district, we transferred their heat supply to another heating and power plant," he said.

"Because the breakdown happened during the weekend, schools and office buildings don't switch on the heating at a high temperature so the supply for those further away homes is guaranteed," said Zhang.

A man surnamed Guan living in Bajiao area said that he used a hot-water bottle at night.

"I'm not satisfied with the slow repairs to the heat supply. And the company did not inform us that day when the heating supply was cut," said Guan, adding that he phoned Beijing heating supply hotline to find out what had happened.

Guan stressed that he is a strong man so that the shortage of heating does not affect him too much.

"However, if the family has small children and old people, the cooler temperature may have a bad influence on their health," he said.

Wang Qian, whose apartment is near Jin'an Bridge, said because her apartment is small, the temperature only dropped around 5 C.

"I felt cold when working on the computer, and I've put another sweater on now," said Wang.