Six workers of a drainage company died and one other was seriously poisoned from a marsh gas poisoning accident on Sunday afternoon in Qiemo County of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

One worker from the county's drainage company fell into a drainage well at around 3 PM Sunday when the company was conducting an examination for the underground drainage system.

Six workers were all poisoned by the high-density marsh gas after they got down into the well to rescue their colleague, according to local government.

Rescuers found all the seven workers after searching more than three hours. Six of them already died.

The only survived has been hospitalized immediately, but he is still in danger, according to the drainage company.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2006)