A total of 34 villagers fell ill after poisonous gas leaked from a chemical plant in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said local authorities Thursday.

Some Titanium tetrachloride, a gas with pungent odor, leaked Tuesday night from Guinan Titanium Co., Ltd. in Daoshui Township of Wuzhou City, when the workers were cleaning the equipment, said a statement from the city government.

Thirty-four people in the nearby Fuwan Village were rushed to the town's hospital after inhaling the gas, said the statement.

By Thursday, 24 villagers had been discharged from hospital, said the statement, while 10 others had been transferred to the Wuzhou City Workers' Hospital.

"They were in a stable condition," said Huang Zhihong, head of the hospital.

The company's operations were suspended as local authorities further investigate the case.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2010)