Soft wind and moderate rain in the next three days are helpful to clear the air pollution in the gas field in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, said experts with Central Meteorological Station Saturday.

From the night of Dec. 28 to Dec. 30, Kaixian county will see drizzle or moderate rain, which is helpful to prevent the further spread of the toxic gas and will make the pollutant fall to the earth, said Qiao Lin, meteorologist with the station.

But Qiao also warned that rain would also make the earth pollution worse and local government were suggested to take measures to clear the pollutant promptly.

A gas well burst Tuesday night in Kaixian County and released a high concentration of natural gas and sulfureted hydrogen. As of press time, 198 people were killed by the toxic gas and more than 9,000 others had to receive treatment.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2003)