A chlorine leak accident occurred at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday caused 282 people hospitalized, with six severely poisoned -- instead of 22 as previously reported, in Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province.

The leaking chlorine tank is a remnant one of an oil chemical plant in the residential area of Nanchang City, which has stopped production for years.

Emergency measures were taken immediately and by 11:50 p.m. the leak was completely stopped and kept under control.

Searches for poisoned residents are underway and all people presenting poisoned symptoms are being transferred from the gas affected area.

No death was reported by Wednesday morning.

Causes for the leaking of the chlorine tank is still unknown and being under investigation.

Inhalation of 2.5 milligrams of chlorine gas is enough to cause death and symptoms of inhalation include bronchial spasms, dropsy and respiratory difficulty.

(Xinhau News Agency April 21, 2004)