Toxic chemical leaked out Saturday morning from a condenser of a chemical plant under the China National Petroleum Group (PetroChina) in Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, sickening 376 people.

A condenser exploded at 7:30 am Saturday at the chemical plant under the PetroChina's Eastern Geophysical Company in Kaifeng County of the city, leaking chlorine hydride and causing 376 people to have adverse reactions.

The victims were immediately sent to local hospitals for regular medical treatment. Most of them have returned home and 56 people remain hospitalized for further observation, local sources said.

A sort of poisonous chemical, chlorine hydride can stimulate human's eyes and respiratory organs, causing such ailments as hoarseness, chest distress and cough. Exposure to dense chlorine hydride may be fatal to human beings.

The accident is now being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2004)