Water supplies restored after N China river contamination

Water supplies have been restored in northern China's Handan city after an earlier chemical spill contaminated a river during the weekend.

The Handan government says the leak occurred in neighboring Shanxi Province. Industrial pollutants were accidently released into the upper reaches of the Zhanghe River, forcing city authorities to cut water supplies from a reservoir, and switch to an underground source. Shanxi investigators found a loose drainage valve at a chemical plant had caused the leak.

The plant is owned by the Tianji Coal Chemical Industry Group in Lucheng city. Four company officials have already been removed from their posts, including the general manager of the company, and the deputy manager in charge of safety.