193 killed, thousands more injured

At least 193 people had been confirmed dead yesterday evening and many more were poisoned or burned in a fatal gas blowout which occurred on Tuesday at a natural gas field in southwestern China, according to local government sources.

The gas field, operated by the China National Petroleum Corporation in Kaixian County, is some 337 kilometers northeast of Chongqing. The tragedy took place at 10pm on Tuesday, when a well suddenly blew up, releasing a high concentration of natural gas and sulfurated hydrogen some 30 meters into the air.

More than 290 villagers have been hospitalized after they were poisoned by the toxic gas. Most of the poisoned victims were children.

More than 3,000 local people were reported to have suffered sulfurated hydrogen-caused symptoms like slight conjunctivitis and colds.

All the poisoned patients were rushed to Kaixian County People's Hospital, the county's largest hospital, and other township hospitals.

More than 41,000 people living in the mountainous area around the gas field have been evacuated from their villages since Tuesday night amid the spread of natural gas and sulphurated hydrogen. The blowout has also killed an unknown large number of poultry and cattle in the area.

A total of 28 villages were hit by the gas blowout and local authorities have set up 15 shelter centers for those evacuated.

Electricity supply to Gaoqiao Town, the hardest-hit area, had been cut off as hundreds of rescue workers rushed back and forth to arrange rescue materials.

The areas within a radius of 3-5 kilometers around the gas field have been blocked by local police.

"We have to evacuate immediately once our current gas density meters send out warning," said a policeman at the scene. "Though the gas has been ignited at the field, the gas spreading to the surrounding areas might be toxic to human at certain density."

Some 600 soldiers, armed police and firefighters were mobilized to search for any survivors in the areas near the gas field.

It is feared that the number of casualties might rise, as 20 special teams continue combing the nearby areas for survivors and identifying casualties.

Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have instructed relevant departments to go all out in the rescue work.

The leaders called for effective efforts in evacuating local residents and making proper accommodation arrangements for them.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. Operation of the gas field was normal before the gas suddenly blew out from the side of the drill, said Qian Zhijia, deputy head of the gas field.

Technicians inflamed the blowout gas to curb further gas spread yesterday afternoon as authorities strived to contain the burst.

Some 260 cubic meters of mud used for the containing of the blowout and 13 special rescue vehicles were on the way to the scene. The mud would be pumped into the well this morning to stop the further spread of the toxic sulfurated hydrogen.