Northeast China's Jilin Province has reported a series of household carbon monoxide leakage and poisoning cases since Monday, leaving 12 people dead as of Thursday.

Local government sources said household gas poisoning took place in a number of residential areas in six counties of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.

By 9:30 PM Wednesday, local hospitals in Yanbian had received a total of 227 people with symptoms of gas poisoning, among whom 12 died and 32 remained in hospital by press time. Eight of the hospitalized are in serious conditions.

Preliminary investigation shows that the carbon monoxide leakage was mainly caused by the recent low air pressure in the prefecture, which led to an incomplete burning of the coal used for cooking and heating by the local residents.

In many areas of north China, burning coal in stoves remains the main way of cooking and winter heating for rural residents and urban dwellers living in old residential buildings.

The local government has activated its emergency response plan for public crises, and has required all local hospitals to spare no effort to save the poisoned people. Local media are publishing or broadcasting reports and messages warning the people against the danger of poor ventilation at home.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2006)