Seven killed by noxious gas at China mill

Exposure to poisonous gasses has left seven workers dead and two injured at a paper mill in central China.

The accident happened Friday after an employee fell into a pool filled with poisonous waste paper pulp during a cleaning operation, according to a statement by authorities from the Anxiang County in the south-central Hunan Province.

The co-workers who rushed to help him were overcome by the noxious gasses, which added to the casualties.

The incident comes despite tough safety checks being imposed by the Chinese government on workplaces nationwide after an August 12 explosion at a warehouse storing toxic chemicals in Tianjin port killed at least 145 people. Police arrested 11 local officials and company executives in connection with that incident along with 10 employees of the firm.

Chinese President Xi Jinping advised the nation and government officials to learn a lesson in safety from the “extremely profound” tragedy.