As of 8:00 PM Saturday, the front of the pollution stretch on northeast China's Songhua River passed Dalianhe Township of Yilan County, but has not reached the city of Jiamusi, monitoring professionals said.

The source with Heilongjiang Environmental Protection Bureau said as of 4:00 PM Saturday, the density of nitrobenzene in Dalianhe was 0.0717 milligrams per liter, 3.22 times above the standard.

On the other hand, the Dalai monitoring station in Jiamusi, the second largest city along the lower reaches of the Songhua River, reported having not detected the chemicals in the water of the river.

Experts say that the 150-km pollution stretch, which slowed down due to subfreezing temperature, is expected to reach Jiamusi on Dec. 6.

The water pollution was caused by a chemical plant blast on November 13 in neighboring Jilin Province, resulting in serious leakage of poisonous substances into the Songhua River.

Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province with the Songhua River as its main water supply source, enforced a four-day suspension of water supply since November 24.

Currently, the water supply in Harbin has resumed and the water quality of all its water supply stations have reached the national standard.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2005)