A polluted river after the Chinese explosion (epa)
28 November 2005 -- Russian officials say stocks of drinking water and an extra 20 tons of charcoal to filter water are being built up in the eastern city of Khabarovsk following the toxic spill in China.
Khabarovsk lies across the Chinese border on the Amur River, which is part of the same river system which has been affected by the spill of toxic nitro-benzene near the Chinese city of Harbin.
Reports say the toxic slick could reach the Russian border within 10 days.
China on Saturday apologized to Russia for the chemical spill.
Chinese authorities on 27 November restored water supplies in Harbin, five days after supplies were cut due to the spill caused by an explosion at a chemical plant. With the toxic slick now passed down river, authorities say they believe the water in Harbin is safe.
(Reuters/AFP/ITAR-TASS)