Photo taken on April 15, 2019 shows the accident site in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province. Ten people died of smoke inhalation in an accident in a pharmaceutical company in the eastern Chinese city of Jinan, local authorities said Monday. The accident occurred at 15:37 on Monday afternoon in the basement of Qilu Tianhe Pharmaceutical when welding sparks ignited a heat-transferring substance, generating smoke. Eight people who were working on a pipeline renovation project suffocated to death on the spot, and two others died despite emergency medical treatment. The accident did not pose harm to the local environment, local environmental protection authorities said. Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)
JINAN, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Ten people died of smoke inhalation in an accident in a pharmaceutical company in the eastern Chinese city of Jinan, local authorities said Monday.
The accident occurred at 15:37 on Monday afternoon in the basement of Qilu Tianhe Pharmaceutical when welding sparks ignited a heat-transferring substance, generating smoke.
Eight people who were working on a pipeline renovation project suffocated to death on the spot, and two others died despite emergency medical treatment.
Twelve rescuers also sustained minor smoke inhalation injuries, which were not life-threatening.
The accident did not pose harm to the local environment, local environmental protection authorities said.
Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
