Photo taken on January 18, 2010 shows the accident site cordoned off by police at the Shunda Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. in Neiqiu County, north China's Hebei Province. [Xinhua]

Six people were confirmed dead after a gas pipeline leak Monday in north China's Hebei Province, said local authorities.

The accident occurred at around 8:30 AM at the Shunda Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. in Neiqiu County, when six workers were carrying out maintenance inside a blast furnace, said Fang Zhuxue, a spokesman with the county government.

"An initial investigation shows that the workers had not completely turned off the gas supply system before entering the furnace, and they had not checked the gas intensity inside the furnace first," Fang said.

Local work safety authorities are further investigating the accident, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2010)