According to Xianfeng News, on January 16, a woman named Wang posted a public apology video to residents of her neighborhood after accidentally causing a serious safety hazard. He explained that he had forgotten to turn off the tap on a solar-powered hot water system installed on the building’s roof after taking a shower the previous night.
As the faucet remained open, water continued to flow into the storage tank and leaked continuously for nine hours. By the next morning, the spilled water had completely frozen while the night-time temperature in Lanzhou had dropped to -8°C (17.6°F). “The icy road everyone saw this morning was caused by me. I’m truly sorry for my mistake.” Wang said in the video.
Another clip recorded by his family showed water pouring from the tank on the roof, running down the walls of the building and spilling onto the street below, quickly forming a thick, slippery layer of ice.
The first person to find out about the accident was Wang’s father, who has a habit of waking up early to exercise. Around 6am he noticed the street was covered in ice but initially thought the leak was coming from another apartment. Upon further inspection, he realized the water was coming from his own family’s unit.
He immediately called his daughter downstairs to clear the ice and fix the situation. Wang’s mother rushed to nearby convenience stores to buy salt to sprinkle on the icy road to help melt the ice, reportedly causing several stores in the area to run out of salt. “If anyone couldn’t buy salt this morning, I sincerely apologize.” Wang added.
She revealed that her father scolded her harshly, not only for the danger caused but also for the embarrassment to the neighbors. Afterward, property management staff joined the family in clearing the ice. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The story spread quickly on Chinese social media and sparked widespread discussion. Many netizens expressed solidarity, pointing out that Wang and his family took responsibility and promptly handled the consequences. “She admitted her mistake and worked to fix it quickly. I think the residents should forgive her,” one user commented. Another also jokingly wrote: “This accident probably saved the entire salt industry.”
Sources: Znews
