At least 41 people poisoned in China chemical leak
At least 41 people have been poisoned in a chemical leak in central China, authorities say.
All of the victims have been transferred to hospital, according to the Xinhua news agency. At least five of them were in serious condition.
The accident occurred Saturday in the central province of Henan at the Henan Zhonghong Coal Chemical Company where 300 kilograms of synthetic ammonia had leaked from a cracked pipe.
The leak was brought under control 15 minutes later, the authorities said in a statement, which suggested that plant operations have been suspended until further notice.
At least 154 other people living in the vicinity of the plant have been sent to hospitals for medical checks.
Residents reported an explosion at the factory before a heavy acrid fog covered the neighborhood, according to several newspapers.
The district government denied there was a blast, saying the media reports were exaggerating the issue.
Chemical and industrial accidents in China are common as over the years a number of incidents of workplace safety hazards have occurred in the country.
Last month, multiple explosions at a warehouse storing hazardous chemicals in the northern port city of Tianjin killed 165 people and left eight missing in China's worst industrial accident ever.
In 2013, a gas line ruptured in the eastern port city of Qingdao, triggering blasts that killed 62 people.
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