(AFP) Five Chinese nationals died of poisoning after inhaling toxic gas while working on board a cargo vessel docked in Pahang, a police spokesman said today.

The five men were cleaning the cargo area of the M V Sunvazs yesterday when a gas leak occurred, trigerring the ship's alarm system.

The victims have been identified as Chong Su Wei, 42, Yang Hua, 23, Zhang Jin Guo, 31, Lim Wan Jun, 32 and Xue Gen Lin, 28.

Chief investigating officer Wan Aziz Wan Idris said the victims were choked by poisonous gas emitted from the remains of the ship's last load, which was bulk fertiliser, which had leaked out from the storage area.

Further probe

He said the ship, registered in Kingstown, Ireland, was still docked at the port pending further investigations.

"There was no explosion and so far, we have no reports of cargo or parts of the ship being destroyed," he told AFP .

Wan Aziz said another worker, who was injured in the accident, was recovering well.

All six were employed on the ship, he said, adding that the captain was in contact with the victim's family members in China to determine if the bodies would be sent home or buried here.