Thousands evacuated after ammonia leak

Four people were injured and thousands evacuated after an ammonia pipeline broke at a cooking gas filling and extraction facility in HCM City on October 10.

Four people were injured and thousands evacuated after an ammonia pipeline broke at a cooking gas filling and extraction facility in HCM City on October 10.

Trees at the scene wilted

The pipeline suddenly broke at around 9 am while the employees were extracting ammonia at a facility on An Phu Tay Street, Binh Chanh District. Many people had breathing difficulty and nausea as the gas covered the area.

"Two employees ran out and asked me to spray water onto their bodies. Blood poured out when I sprayed water into their mouths," a local said.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Trung Thang, deputy head of the fire department in Binh Chanh District said they sent 35 officials and four fire trucks and one truck to deal with the ammonia to the scene.

Trying to save a dog suffered from gas asphyxiation

Nearby residents and over 1,000 pupils at An Phu Tay 2 Primary School which is 1km away from the scene were evacuated. Four employees were injured and transferred to the hospital including a driver, two employees of the facility and a resident.

The ammonia was contained by 12 noon.