22 people were severely injured when a liquid chlorine tank of a chemical plant leaked at 9:30 pm Tuesday evening in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, leaving hundreds of local residents presenting obvious poisoned symptoms.

The leaking chlorine tank is a remnant one of an oil chemical plant in the residential area of Nanchang City, which has stopped production for years.

Emergency measures were taken immediately and by 11:50 pm the leak was completely stopped and kept under control.

According to sources with the hospital, all the 22 of severe poisoned symptoms are out of danger.

Searches for poisoned residents are underway and by Wednesday morning, no more injured are reported.

Causes for the leaking of the chlorine tank is still unknown and being under investigation.

Inhalation of 2.5 milligrams of chlorine gas is enough to cause death and symptoms of inhalation include bronchial spasms, dropsy and respiratory difficulty.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2004)