Twenty six people are still hospitalized Tuesday after a toxic gas leak that poisoned 38 in east China's Zhejiang Province Monday, local officials said.

Twelve patients have been released from the hospital after receiving treatment and the other 26, including two who are seriously injured, are still under observation, said Yan Dehua, emergency office director of the provincial Public Health Department.

The accident took place at about 7 p.m. Monday when workers were dismantling tanks that contained poisonous benzene near a village at Jinyun County of Lishui City. Thirty-eight workers and villagers were poisoned after inhaling the gas.

Local environmental bureau estimated about one-and-a half kilograms of the benzene had leaked.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)