Society

Toxic gas kills 5 workers in NW China

(xINHUA)
Updated: 2010-12-20 19:33

LANZHOU -- Five workers were killed and two were injured after they inhaled poisonous gas at a fertilizer plant in northwest China's Gansu Province Monday, the local government said, correcting an earlier emergency response office report that said the workers were electrocuted.

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The accident occurred at about 7:30 am at the Xinchuan Chemical Plant in Jinchang City when two workers entered a pit in a workshop, said Liu Baoxue, an official with the city's work safety bureau.

The pit contained toxic gas that poisoned the workers. Five other workers later entered the pit to look for the two workers. They were also poisoned.

The two workers that survived are in stable conditions.

Work safety officials are investigating the accident to identify the gas that killed the workers.