HARBIN, March 14 -- Twenty-six workers became ill when ammonia leaked from a food processing plant in Harbin, in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Friday morning.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. Friday, when liquid ammonia, a caustic chemical with pungent smell, leaked from a pipe in the freezing and drying workshop of Gaojian Food Co., Ltd in Hulan District, said the district press office.

All 26 workers were taken to hospital and all are now in a stable condition.

Investigation is underway.