Emergency crews in southwest China's Chongqing failed to cap a leaking gas well on their first attempt and decided to try new tactics this morning.

Firefighters work on a water pipeline near a leaking gas well in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Emergency crews on 27th March failed to cap the well, and more than 10,000 residents who were evacuated had to remain away from their homes. [Xinhua]

There was no immediate word on what went wrong with the attempt to stop the leak.

According to the new plan worked out last night, workers will pour slurry and cement into the underground through the mouth of the Luojia No. 2 well located in Gaoqiao Town of Kaixian County.

Over 10,000 residents living within 1 kilometer of the well were evacuated as a precaution. No casualties were reported.

Workers earlier ignited the escaping gas to avoid the possibility of a pressure buildup and explosion.

Gas began leaking on Saturday from the well, which belongs to the China National Petroleum Corporation Sichuan Provincial Petroleum Administration.

It is near the site of a deadly gas blow out that killed 243 people in 2003.

Chongqing's environmental protection department set up seven monitoring posts within 4 kilometers of the leak to check airborne gas levels.

The State Administration of Work Safety has asked the CNPC to monitor pressure changes in a nearby gas well, keep a close check on gas levels in the air and report any increases immediately so the evacuation area can be enlarged in a timely manner.