8 die from toxic gas while cleaning sewage in NE China

Eight people were killed and another two became ill while cleaning a sewage discharge outlet Friday in Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, local authorities said.

Villagers and workers fell unconscious while entering a sewage pool at a kelp processing plant to clean the blocked outlet at around 8:30 a.m. in Yanchang New Village of Longtou Community in Lushunkou District.

The press office of the district's Party committee said in a statement.

Some other villagers trying to save them also inhaled the toxic gas and fell into the pool, said the statement.

Eight people were confirmed dead and those who are ill are being treated at hospitals, it said.

Further investigation is under way.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)