Society

3 dead, 3 injured in NW China ammonia poisoning

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-05 13:21

LANZHOU - Three people were confirmed dead and three others injured after an ammonia poisoning accident Monday morning at a chemical plant in Northwest China's Gansu province, spokesperson with the local work safety authority said.

Related readings:  70 student hit by food poisoning in S China  Boy died from suspicious poisoning in kindergarten  Lead poisoning sickens 16 children in central China  70 fall sick due to food poisoning in Beijing

The accident took place at around 8:15 am Monday at a zinc carbonate plant of Baiyin Tianxian Chemical Building Materials Co Ltd in Baiyin city, when one worker entered the ammonia pool illegally and fell into coma from ammonia poisoning. Five others rushed to rescue him without any security measures and then were also poisoned. They were all sent to hospital immediately.

Three of the six died later in hospital, one was seriously injured and the other two slightly injured.

All of the injured were in stable condition, the spokesperson said.

The accident is being investigated.