Toxic slick cuts off water

Tap water was turned off to 26,000 people in Dalianhe, on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Yilin as a slick of toxic benzene on the Songhua River approached, AFP reported. With the shutdown expected to last three days, Communist Party members went door-to-door distributing bottled water. The nearby bigger city of Yilin should not be affected because its 110,000 people draw water from wells. China will send experts and equipment to Russia to help curb environmental damage as a toxic slick makes its way to the border.