Jiao Zhengzhong, vice governor of Jilin province, said sorry to the people and businesses of Harbin city in neighboring Heilongjiang province who are under threat from a massive toxic slick, the Beijing News reported.

"We are deeply, deeply sorry," the paper quoted Jiao as telling Heilongjiang deputy governor Shen Liguo.

The 80-kilometer-long (49-mile) slick of benzene, which is moving down the Songhua river that provides Harbin with most of its water, was caused by a massive explosion at a PetroChina benzene factory in Jilin on November 13.

PetroChina's parent company is China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), the nation's largest oil company. It also issued an apology to Heilongjiang's people over the disaster, said Xinhua news agency.

The company "deeply regrets" the pollution caused by the explosion and will be responsible for handling the aftermath, CNPC's deputy general manager Zeng Yukang was quoted as saying.

The carcinogenic chemical reached the outskirts of Harbin on Thursday morning, contaminating water supplies for up to four million people. Mains water has been turned off till the slick flows downstream.

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