A lead smelting plant in north Gansu Province caught fire on Sunday Morning, killing eight people and injuring 10, including three who are listed in serious condition.

The accident occurred at about 8:30 AM when a boiler, which was still being tested in a lead plant in Guazhou County of the province suddenly blew out oxygen enrichment and ignited a fire.

Three of the victims were technicians on site from a metallurgy institution in Yunnan Province, the designer of the boiler. Another technician was badly injured.

The boiler was designed to produce 50,000 tons of raw lead bullion and 60,000 tons of vitriol a year, Xinhua said.

The test began on August 31.

Authorities are still investigation the cause of the fire.

Workers had to feed raw material into the boiler by hand as the conveyor belt was damaged, which may have lead to the blaze.

(Shanghai Daily September 10, 2007)