7 killed, 2 injured in China paper mill accident

Authorities in central China authorities say seven workers were killed and two injured after exposure to poisonous gasses at a paper mill.


A statement from the Anxiang county government in Hunan province say the accident occurred Friday after an employee fell into a pool filled with poisonous waste paper pulp during a cleaning operation. It says his co-workers rushed to help him but were overcome by the noxious gasses.

The incident comes amid a spate of industrial accidents in China, the worst being an explosion at a warehouse storing toxic chemicals in Tianjin port that killed at least 145.

Police have arrested 11 local officials and company executives in that incident along with 10 employees of the firm involved. Nationwide safety checks were ordered after the Aug. 12 disaster. (AP)