BEIJING, CHINA (AFP) - More than a thousand barrels of explosive chemicals were washed into a major waterway in northeastern China on Wednesday, state media said, in the country's latest environmental accident.

The incident occurred around 10 a.m. local time in Jilin province after floodwaters swept the barrels into the Songhua river, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing the local government.

The barrels were from a local factory near Jilin city and contained more than 160 tonnes of methyl chloride, a highly explosive colourless gas, the report said.

Emergency workers were trying to recover the barrels and local environmental protection authorities were monitoring the water quality of the river, it added.

Jilin is the latest province to have been hit by recent deadly floods that have killed 333 people since July 14 and left another 300 missing, according to the latest official figures.