China Fights the World's Other Huge Oil Spill [TIMELINE]

(July 21) -- This sound familiar? China is dealing with the worst oil spill in its history, according to Greenpeace, after two pipelines in the coastal city of Dalian exploded Friday, sending crude gushing into the Yellow Sea.

Below, Surge Desk outlines the timeline of the world's other great oil spill. Most of the facts are from Xinhua, China's state-run news agency, unless otherwise noted.

Friday, July 16: At approximately 6:20 p.m. local time, an explosion in a pipeline near Dalian Xingang Harbor set off a secondary explosion in a smaller pipeline. The pipelines connected tankers in the harbor with storage containers on land, according to Xinhua. The pipes were owned by China National Petroleum Corp., the country's largest oil and gas producer and supplier.

Saturday, July 17: After 15 hours, firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Sunday, July 18: Oil was stopped from spilling into the sea with the closing of a valve. Officials began investigating the accident.

Monday, July 19: The oil slick was 10 centimeters thick in some places, the Chinese state television news network reported, according to BusinessWeek. Approximately 1,500 tons of oil gushed into the sea before the spill was contained, Chinese state-run radio reported.

Tuesday, July 20: Officials said they had 40 oil-skimming boats and 800 fishing vessels assisting in the cleanup efforts. Zhang Liang, a 25-year-old firefighter, drowned when he was swept away by a wave while trying to clean the motor of a boat underwater. Another firefighter was swept into the oil-caked waters and had to be rescued.

Wednesday, July 21: Chinese officials say oil is now spread across 165 square miles of water. There is still no word on what caused the explosion.

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Oil Spill in China

An explosion in a pipeline at a Chinese port in Dalian, China, on Friday set off an oil spill that would grow into the worst in China's history. The massive fireburned for 15 hours. Here, firefighters walk near flames towering from the burst pipeline on Saturday.

Oil Spill in China

Firefighters work at the scene of the blast on Saturday. The explosion in the first pipeline set off a second explosion in a smaller pipeline.

Oil Spill in China

The pipes were owned by China National Petroleum Corp, China's largest oil and gas producer and supplier.

Oil Spill in China

A firefighter surveys the port on after the blaze was extinguished. On Sunday, officials said that oil was stopped from spilling into the sea.

Oil Spill in China

Here, people inspect an oil slick on Sunday in the Yellow Sea at the coast in Dalian, China. About 1,500 tons of oil gushed into the sea before the spill was contained.

Oil Spill in China

A boat and debris float in an oil slick in the Yellow Sea.

Oil Spill in China

Chinese firefighters are seen on boats moving through the spill. The oil slick was 10 centimeters thick in some places, according to Chinese state media.

Oil Spill in China

A firefighter rushes to aid his colleague who ran into trouble amid thick oil cover as they attempted to fix an underwater pump in Dalian, China, on Tuesday.

Oil Spill in China

The firefighter gasps for breath after being rescued from the thick crude. Another firefighter, Zhang Liang, 25, drowned when he was swept away by a wave while trying to clean the motor of a boat underwater.

Oil Spill in China

Oil washes ashore near the port of Dalian, China, on Tuesday.

Oil Spill in China