Related: 15 killed in carbon monoxide poisoning in Jilin

   CHANGCHUN, Feb. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The death toll from a series of household carbon monoxide leakage and poisoning cases in Jilin Province, Northeast China, has risen to 16 as another resident was found dead at home Thursday afternoon, the provincial health department said Friday.

    The tragedy occurred in a number of residential areas in six cities the Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture of the Korean ethnic group in Jilin Province, including Yanji, Longjing, Tumen, Helong,Wangqing and Antu, due to a combination of burning coal and bad winter weather, according to the department.

    More than 290 poisoned residents have been hospitalized. Most of them were out of danger, while four badly-poisoned were still in critical condition.

    Experts owed the incidents to the recent low atmospheric pressure, which led to an incomplete burning of the coal used for cooking and heating by local residents.

    In many areas of North China, burning coal in stoves remains the main way of cooking and winter heating for rural residents and urban dwellers living in old residential buildings.

    Local authorities in the affected areas and some adjacent regions are warning people against carbon monoxide poisoning and urged them to maintain a good ventilation environment. Enditem