New China toxic spills threaten millions

In the eastern province of Shandong a 60 kilometer-long (37 mile) diesel oil slick flowing down the Yellow River, China's second longest river, forced the province to stop pumping water from it, the Xinhua news agency said.

So far 63 pumping stations along the river in several cities and counties, including the capital Jinan, have been shut down, said Xinhua.

An official at the Jinan city Yellow River River Affairs Bureau told AFP the city of about six million people was now relying on water from reservoirs.

"We still have water to provide. We are doing all right. We're using reservoir water, which can last us several months," said the official.

It was not immediately clear if other cities had similar backup supply.

Provincial officials could not be reached for comment even though the cabinet issued a nationwide emergency response plan Sunday that promises to inform the public of public health threats in a timely and accurate way.

The oil spill occurred Thursday at Gongyi city in neighbouring Henan province when a frozen pipe broke, causing six tons of oil to spill into a tributary of the Yellow River.

However, Xinhua did not report it until Sunday.