Leaders of Germany and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have sent condolences to their Chinese counterparts over the gas well burst in the Chongqing Municipality in southwest China, which has caused 233 deaths.  

In a message to Chinese President Hu Jintao, German President Johannes Rau, on behalf of the German people and in his own name, expressed deep sympathy over the gas well accident and offered condolences to the bereaved relatives.

In a telegram to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also expressed deep condolences over the accident and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

German Foreign Minister Joseph Fischer also offered condolences to his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing.

In his message to Chinese President Hu, Kim Yong Nam, president of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Presidium, expressed deep condolences and sympathy to Hu, the Chinese government and relatives of the dead over the gas blowout. Kim said he was confident that the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, would soon overcome the aftermath of the disaster.

The accident took place at 10:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Dec. 23 at a natural gas field in Kaixian County, operated by China National Petroleum Corporation, when a well burst and released a high concentration of natural gas and sulfurated hydrogen.

On Sunday, the local government confirmed that the death toll from the gas blowout rose to 233.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2003)