The death toll from an explosion in a natural gas field in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Tuesday has risen to 191, according to Chongqing municipal government at 18:40.

The tragedy occurred at 10 pm at Chuandongbei gas field in Kaixian County, when a well burst suddenly and released a high concentration of natural gas and sulfurated hydrogen about 30 meters high.

The blowout happened at a major gas field in southwest China, which has a storage capacity of 50 to 60 billion tons of natural gas. It is run by Sichuan Petroleum Administration under the China National Petroleum Corporation.

Operations were going normally before the gas suddenly exploded from the side of the drill when it went through the well 208 meters from the drill site, said Qian Zhijia, deputy head of the gas field.

He said the blowout should be completely under control by 10 pm Friday.

Top municipal government officials have led teams from medical, civil affairs, public security and transportation departments.

Residents within five square kilometers had been evacuated, said Wang Duanping, vice-governor of the county. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2003)