More than 400 people have been sickened by contaminated drinking water in north China's Hebei Province, local government sources said.
Residents in four residential communities in Guzhi District, Tangshan City, started to show symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever on June 25. A total of 404 had received medical treatment by 12 p.m. Tuesday.
Leakage of the underground tap water pipeline caused the pollution, initial investigation showed.
Most of the residents have recovered.
Local government Tuesday pledged to provide safe tap water for the four compounds within three days.
(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2009)