Gas blast death toll hits 243

The death toll from a gas-drilling accident that spewed toxic fumes over villages in south western China rose to 243 today, after 10 injured people died in hospital.

An additional 396 people were still being treated following the December 23 disaster north east of the city of Chongqing, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It said 27 of those were in a critical condition.

The government has blamed negligence among gas-drilling workers for the accident in which a well blew out and spewed a toxic mix of natural gas and hydrogen sulphide over the mountainous area.

The well was sealed on December 27.

More than 9,000 people were treated for injuries and more than 60,000 evacuated from the area.

Xinhua did not say how the latest deaths occurred, but many of those injured reported suffered gas poisoning and skins burns from exposure to the fumes.