30 fall ill due to China gas leak

November 23rd, 2010 - 10:11 pm ICT by IANS  

Beijing, Nov 23 (IANS) At least 30 people fell ill Tuesday due to leakage of toxic chlorine gas from a plant in China’s Jiangsu province, officials said.

The gas leaked out of the Dahe Chlor-Alkli Co. Ltd. in the morning and travelled downwind, poisoning in the process employees of the Zhijiang Chemicals Co. Ltd. in Yancheng city, Xinhua reported citing municipal government officials.

A worker of the Dahe Chlor-Alkli Co. Ltd. “mishandled” a valve which caused the accident. The gas leak lasted for about five minutes, a statement said.

The people who showed symptoms of poisoning were immediately rushed to a hospital. Some of them were discharged but 21 people were still being treated.

There were, however, no casualties.

Authorities are now evaluating the impact of the gas leak on the environment.

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