Chlorine gas leak raises stink in Menglembu

Kampung Baru Bukit Merah residents in Menglembu here have raised a stink over a pungent smell from a nearby factory producing chlor-alkali (chlorine-alkaline) substances as a result of a gas leak this morning.

Ipoh Fire and Rescue Department (Zone 1) chief, Mohd Khairul Jamil said the public had notified the department on the smell at 12.03pm.

He said initially, the department did not deploy its personnel to the scene as the management of the factory had said the situation was under control. "However, the company contacted the Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue Department not long after, saying the leak persisted and that the situation was out of control.

"When a team of firemen was deployed to the scene, it found that a tank containing ferric chloride had fallen on the ground before it became mixed with hypochlorite on pipes, thus creating chlorine gas," he said when contacted here today.

Mohd Khairul said the situation was currently under control and the gas neutralisation works were being carried out. Four firemen were sent to a hospital due to fatigue but they were reported to be stable.

A total of 24 members from the department's Hazardous Materials Unit were deployed to the scene. - BERNAMA