Blackout-Caused Gas Leak Results in Five Deaths at Northeast China Factory

What’s new: Five people died and eight people were injured in a chemical fiber factory in the northern city of Jilin after a blackout caused by an electrical short circuit Saturday night stopped critical ventilation equipment from running inside a workshop.

Following the hour-long blackout, staff reentering the workshop inhaled toxic gases, according to an official local government statement on Sunday.

The ventilation system had been fixed and no toxic gases were detected around the factory the following day, according to the statement. The cause of the blackout and types of toxic gas emitted weren’t disclosed by local authorities.

What’s the background: The factory is owned by Shenzhen-listed Jilin Chemical Fiber Stock Co. Ltd. (000420. SZ) The company’s share price fell 2.15% on Monday to 2.28 yuan (35 U.S. cents).

Jilin Chemical said in a statement filed to the bourse on Monday that it had completed inspections of the other workshops in the factory, and that the accident had no major impact on company operations.

Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use.To read the full Caixin article in Chinese, click here.

Contact reporter Lu Yutong (yutonglu@caixin.com) and editor Heather Mowbray (heathermowbray@caixin.com)

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