Gas leak kills seven in China

BEIJING - Seven workers were killed and nine hospitalised after being exposed to a poisonous gas that leaked from a steel plant pipeline in north China’s Hebei province, authorities said Tuesday.

Sixteen workers were poisoned while assembling a furnace at 11.45 a.m. Monday in Hebei Puyang Iron and Steel company, an official said.

Seven were confirmed dead and the other nine were in stable condition, Li Shuming, general secretary of Wu’an municipal government, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The pipeline was being installed by Nanjing Sanye, Li said.

–IANS