A suspected chemical leak at a machinery factory in Jiangsu province has killed at least one worker and seen 10 other people admitted to hospital, local media reported yesterday.
Night-shift workers at the Chengda machinery plant in Yizheng, Yangzhou, were overcome by toxic fumes early on Sunday morning that were suspected to have been discharged by nearby chemical plants, the Yangtze Evening News reported.
A factory manager was among those admitted to hospital with symptoms of severe poisoning.
Victims said they began coughing and feeling chest pain and shortness of breath late on Saturday night. They were sent to hospital in Yizheng after their symptoms continued to worsen early the next morning.
One worker, aged 47, died hours later and at least four remained in intensive care on Monday, the newspaper reported.
Relatives of the victims ruled out the possibility of food poisoning because most of the workers had their dinner at their home.
They believed the poisoning was caused by toxic leaks from neighbouring chemical plants as the machinery plant is located inside a chemical industrial park that is notorious for pollution.