A worker was killed and another injured after ammonia gas leaked from a pharmaceutical plant in Chongqing Municipality Thursday, rescuers said.

A large amount of ammonia gas leaked from a pipe which burst at about 3 p.m. in Shenghuaxi Pharmacy Co. Ltd. in Nan'an District.

One worker was killed after inhaling the chemical. His brother is being treated in the No. 5 People's Hospital.

Plant operations have ceased. Workers have repaired the pipe.

An investigation of the accident was underway.

The plant reported another accident in 2007, when four workers were injured in a chemical blast.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)