Northeast China's
Jilin Province has reported a series of household carbon
monoxide leakage and poisoning cases since Monday, leaving 12
people dead as of Thursday.
Local government sources said household gas poisoning took place
in a number of residential areas in six counties of Yanbian Korean
Autonomous Prefecture.
By 9:30?PM Wednesday, local hospitals in Yanbian had
received a total of 227 people with symptoms of gas poisoning,
among whom 12 died and 32 remained in hospital by press time. Eight
of the hospitalized are in serious conditions.
Preliminary investigation shows that the carbon monoxide leakage
was mainly caused by the recent low air pressure in the prefecture,
which led to an incomplete burning of the coal used for cooking and
heating by the local residents.
In many areas of north China, burning coal in stoves remains the
main way of cooking and winter heating for rural residents and
urban dwellers living in old residential buildings.
The local government has activated its emergency response plan
for public crises, and has required all local hospitals to spare no
effort to save the poisoned people. Local media are publishing or
broadcasting reports and messages warning the people against the
danger of poor ventilation at home.
(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2006)
