The Chinese government confirmed another 396 people are still being treated, with 27 of those said to be in critical condition.

The Chinese government has concluded its investigations and have concluded that it was negligence on the part of gas-drilling workers at the well, which caused the well to blow out and spew a lethal cocktail of natural gas and hydrogen sulphide.

The well was sealed on 27 December. More than 9,000 people have been treated for injuries and 60,000 people have been evacuated from the affected area.