Overview

• A suspected gas explosion in Sanhe, China, killed seven and injured 27, prompting state TV journalists to report from the scene.
• Chinese authorities manhandled journalists from state media, including CCTV, during live broadcasts, obstructing their reporting.
• The city of Sanhe issued a rare public apology for the harassment, citing poor communication skills of front-line staff as the cause.
• The All-China Journalists Association defended journalists' rights to report from disaster sites, highlighting the public's right to know.
• The incident sparked a debate on press freedom in China, with social media and commentators supporting the journalists' rights.