China's Ministry of Health has shown great concern over the situation following a disastrous gas blowout in southwest China,which has caused at least 193deaths and forced tens of thousands of local residents to flee to safer areas.

A ministry spokesman told Xinhua reporters this in an exclusive interview Thursday.

Huang Jiefu,a deputy minister of health,has arrived at the disaster site in Kaixian County,Chongqing Municipality,tomonitor the situation on the spot,while the ministry plans tosend a team of experts to join hands with local medical workers inthe rescue efforts,according to the spokesman.

The fatal accident occurred in a gas field operated by the China National Petroleum Corporation,at 10:00pm Tuesday,when awell blowout suddenly released a high concentration of natural gasand sulfurated hydrogen.