About 2,000 evacuated after benzene spill

NANJING, China, May 20 (UPI) -- Authorities in South China evacuated about 2,000 people after a spill from a tanker truck released 10 tons of benzene into local rivers.

Xinhua, China's official government news agency, reported that no serious injuries have been reported among area residents. The driver of the truck was severely injured.

The crash occurred early Wednesday morning in Beiliu City in the Guanxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The liquid spilled into the Lingjiang River, which carried it into the Luojiang and Jianjiang.

Officials say the truck was carrying 40 tons of benzene with about 10 tons spilling. The remainder was transferred to another truck.