Chemical warfare drill
Chemical warfare drillIDF Spokesperson's Unit

15 people died on Saturday from a deadly chemical leak in a cold storage plant in China’s most populated city, Shanghai.

China’s official news agency reported that liquid ammonia leaked from a refrigeration unit in Weng's Cold Storage Industrial Company.

The cause of the fatal accident is still unclear as an investigation is underway.

An estimated 26 people became ill from exposure to the liquid ammonia. Eight are said to be in critical condition.

Local media published pictures of firefighters at the scene and say that the incident occurred in the city's northern district of Baoshan at a refrigeration unit owned by a seafood company, AFP reports.

Industrial accidents are common in China as safety regulations and building standards are often ignored by authorities who tend to focus on economic development.