1 killed, 31 injured in chemical plant gas leak in China

At least one person was killed and 31 others were injured after a gas leak in a chemical factory in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, officials said today.

The high-temperature gas leaked while workers were conducting pipeline maintenance at the Xinjiang Yihua chemical industry company in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture yesterday, a statement from the Xinjiang's regional government was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Among the workers hospitalised, 18 were seriously injured. The case is under investigation, it said.