Gas leak poisons dozens in N China

More than 40 people have been poisoned due to a gas leak in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local authorities said Thursday.

The accident occurred Wednesday night at a village in the regional capital of Hohhot.

Twenty-six people have been hospitalized, with one in critical condition.

Investigators said the toxic gas, identified as chlorine, came from two containers that were illegally stored by a local resident surnamed Fan, who reportedly did not tell anyone about the leak after discovering it.