A hydrochloric acid spill has contaminated a river in east China's Zhejiang Province, disrupting water supply to hundreds of residents.

 

The accident occurred at 5:30 AM on Monday in Pan'an county as a truck loaded with 11 tons of hydrochloric acid overturned and spilled almost all of the chemicals aboard into the Xilugang river in Panfeng town.

 

The chemical spill has disrupted water supplies to villagers living along the river, local government officials said.

 

Officials also said local residents have been warned of not to fetch water from and go fishing in the river.

 

The local government has poured ten tons of calcium oxide into the river to dilute the pollution and built a dam to blockade the chemicals. The efforts have helped to basically controlled the pollution, said local officials.

 

Local environment protection officials is closely monitoring the water quality, reporting the results every one hour.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2006)