Society

Carbon monoxide poisoning kills 6

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-12 07:25

NANJING - The death toll from a carbon monoxide poisoning in a factory in East China's Jiangsu province has risen by three to six by Saturday evening, local authorities said.

The accident occurred at 9:15 am at a foundry located in the Wujin district of the city of Changzhou.

A foundry worker was overcome by carbon monoxide and fell into a furnace while conducting a routine check of the furnace. Six others, including a firefighter, were poisoned while trying to rescue him.

The foundry worker, the factory boss, three co-workers and the firefighter died after emergency medical treatment failed, the district government said in a statement.

One was still under treatment but in no life-threatening conditions, it said.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.