Twenty-four people, including 22 firefighters, have respiratory injuries alleged to have been caused by inhaling toxic gas during a fire early Saturday morning in east China, local authorities said.

Police in Danyang City, Jiangsu Province, responded to a fire report at an industrial garden around 4:51 a.m., and 52 firefighters were sent to the scene in 12 fire engines, according to local police.

The fire, which engulfed an area of about 1,000 square meters in a factory, was extinguished around 6:30 a.m.. Two factory workers and 22 firefighters later showed symptoms associated with inhaling a toxic substance.

Seven of those affected, all of them firefighters, are in a critical condition and are receiving treatment. All of the victims are currently in hospital.

Source : XINHUA