FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Plans to extinguish a gas blowout at a remote field in southwest China have been delayed. The blowout this week spread poison gas, killing nearly 200 people. Let's get more on this from our Lisa Rose Weaver. She joins us on the phone from Beijing -- Lisa.</s>LISA ROSE WEAVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, well, rescue search efforts continue in the area affected by the blast now more than three days ago. Now authorities are widening their search to a 10 kilometer diameter area around the blowout site. What they find in the hours ahead may well increase the death toll, which Chinese state media has reported at standing at 191 people. Now, meanwhile, injured, the injured continue to flow into hospitals in the area. Again, state media reporting that around 9,000 people are at outpatient clinics suffering a variety of injuries, chemical burns to their skin, damage to their respiratory system, while 400 people are officially registered in the hospital. We believe their cases are more serious. Now, Fredricka, this case is sure to gain the attention, the continued attention of China's national leadership. The Chinese president and premier making comments immediately after the death toll jumped to 191, urging search and rescue efforts and also urging stronger safety measures. We spoke earlier today with the company that runs the oil field, Petro China. They insisted that they always utilized safety measures at their other oil fields in the country. They would not comment on what might have happened at this particular oil field. There have been a couple of accidents like this in the past in China, in the past few years, each incident with far fewer casualties. This, with at least 191 people dead, is by far the largest industrial accident of its kind in recent memory -- Fredricka.</s>WHITFIELD: Lisa Rose Weaver from Beijing, thank you very much. Delayed>
Plans to Extinguish Gas Blowout in Southwest China Delayed