Crude oil leak contained in Guangdong (2)

Five monitoring spots were set up by the Zhanjiang Environmental Monitoring Station to collect water from the Chikan Reservoir every two hours. Data from the station shows the reservoir's water quality is safe.

More than 11,000 people from nine villages in Mazhang and Chikan districts were affected by the leak, and a special work team was set up to help them, authorities said.

Investigation showed the leak was caused by a burst section of pipe, which had corroded after being underground for more than 10 years, Guangzhou Daily reported.

"We check the pipeline every year, but because it is about 100 km long it is difficult to find problems with pipes in some areas," said Dong Zhangyu, publicity chief for Maoming Petrochemical.

But Dong said that following the leak the company will check all of the pipeline and improve repair work.

Dong declined to disclose the economic losses caused by the leak.

With a total length of 115 km, the pipeline starts at Gangyou Dock in Zhanjiang, a coastal city, and ends at a plant in Maoming.