15 people in northeast China's
Jilin Province died of carbon monoxide poisoning on Thursday.
32 others have been hospitalized, 8 in critical condition,
according to the provincial health department.
The department said there was a gas leak in a number of
residential areas in six cities in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous
Prefecture, including Yanji, Longjing, Tumen, Helong, Wangqing and
Antu.
Preliminary investigations showed that the carbon monoxide leak
was caused by low air pressure in recent days, which resulted in
the incomplete burning of coal used for cooking and heating by
locals.
In many areas in North China, coal is the main fuel used for
cooking and heating by rural residents and urban dwellers who live
in old residential buildings.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2006)
