SHIJIAZHUANG - Contamination in a north Chinese river has led to the water supply in Handan, a city with more than 1 million people in Hebei province, being cut off since Saturday afternoon.

A statement by the city government said the cut-off was caused by an accident in the neighboring Shanxi Province where industrial pollutants poured into the upper reaches of the Zhanghe River.

The statement did not provide details about the accident, or how many households have been affected.

The city cut off its water supply from Yuecheng Reservoir located on the river and switched to another underground water source, according to the statement.

Residents in several parts of Handan told Xinhua reporters that the water supply had not resumed on Saturday evening.