(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-04 08:45

SHANGHAI -- Two workers were suffocated to death Monday at Baosteel, China's leading steel producer, when they entered a nitrogen-filled furnace for maintenance, Shanghai's work safety watchdog said.

The incident occurred around 4:30 pm at Baosteel's specialty steel company.

The two workers, Jiang Dongjun and Wu Lingchao, both 26, entered the chamber to fix the furnace door, which was having a problem.

They lost their consciousness in the furnace and were rushed to a nearby hospital. Doctors failed to save their lives.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.