A local government spokesman said on Thursday that 71 people were in stable condition following Wednesday's chlorine leak at a chemical plant in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Among those sickened, 24 were being treated in hospitals and 47 others were under medical observation. Doctors said one person had been seriously poisoned and six slightly poisoned, while 64 had skin irritation.

The leak occurred at about 3:35 PM on Wednesday at a liquefied chlorine workshop of the Xundian Phosphorus and Electricity Co. Ltd. in Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County, the spokesman said.

The leak had been completely contained, causing no pollution, and air quality near the scene was within normal limits, the local environmental authority said.

The company, under the Yunnan Phosphorus Group, had resumed operation at its other facilities.

County work safety bureau officials as well as those from Kunming City, the provincial capital, were investigating the cause of the leak.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2008)