Situation under control after chemical leakage at Laem Chabang port

Officials have contained the chemical leakage at the Laem Chabang Deep Seaport, which injured at least nine workers and led to evacuations of nearby residents early Thursday.

The leakage happened at about 45 minutes after midnight at the B3 port, rescue officials of the Sawang Prateep Sriracha said.

About 200 families of nearby residents were evacuated because the leakage caused stench in the area.

Nine workers were rushed to nearby hospitals after they inhaled the gas caused by the leakage.

Initially, Chalermkiart Salakkham, director of the port, said the chemical was bromine but later he told Thai PBS that the chemical was Sodium persulfate.

He said the chemical was leaked because its aluminum container a container cracked following an impact.

Port officials said workers neutralized the leaked chemical with a type of chemical and the 200 families were allowed to return to their homes at 3:30 am.

Siripong Hangsapruek, deputy permanent secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, said officials doused the chemical container with water to prevent it from vaporising.

Officials from the ministry also checked the quality of air in the 1-km vicinity and found that there was hydrogen sulfide in the air, Siripong said.

The officials also distributed gas masks to residents nearby.

The Nation