Villagers poisoned by arsenic out of danger

The 136 villagers who were poisoned by drinking water contaminated with arsenic are out of danger, state media reported today.

The local government in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region reported on Tuesday that residents of two villages in Hechi City had facial swelling, vomiting and blurred eyesight as of Friday. Excessive amounts of arsenic was found in their urine, Xinhua reported.

Initial investigation showed that their drinking water had been contaminated by industrial waste from a nearby metallurgy firm.

The unidentified firm discharged arsenic-rich waste before 2005, which later seeped into ground water reserves.

The local government provided safe drinking water to the affected villages and are looking for other possible victims.

Wei Kaizhong, health bureau director of Hechi City, said the victims are now in stable condition.

Authorities are conducting an investigation into the poisoning.