6 die from asphyxia at North China factory

Six people died from asphyxia at a down feather processing factory in Baoding city, North China's Hebei province on Saturday, according to a statement by local government.

A worker fainted when checking the water pump of a scum pool at about 3 am on Saturday at the Yanqi Down Feather Professing Plant in Daxinzhuang village, Xushui district.

Several other staff members also fainted during efforts to rescue the worker.

After the rescue, one person survived while the remaining six died.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The district organized related government organs, including the health department and public security, to the site immediately after the accident and has started inspection at factories across the district to avoid a similar disaster.