HARBIN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province have sent around 1,600 people to clear pollutants that spread to local waters due to a mine tailing leakage late last month, local authorities said Tuesday.

The leakage happened at 1:40 p.m. on March 28 at a tailings pond of the Yichun Luming Mining Co., Ltd. in the city of Yichun, Heilongjiang Province. The leakage was stopped on March 31, but some contaminated water had flowed into local rivers.

The provincial environmental authorities launched projects to contain and clear the pollutants in the river after the incident.

The city of Yichun and its neighboring city of Suihua, and Qingan County sent around 1,600 people to the waters, with over 200 cubic meters of pollutants cleared.

The incident only affected drinking water in the city of Tieli, and local authorities have taken measures to ensure water safety in the city, according to the provincial department of ecology and environment.