Toxic gas leak at chemical factory in South Korea, 11 hospitalised
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Buy SPH photosSEOUL (AFP) - A toxic gas leak on Tuesday at a chemical factory in South Korea left 11 workers hospitalised and forced the evacuation of residents living nearby, local officials said.
The incident occurred at a factory in the southeastern industrial city of Gumi, where a hydrochloric acid leak at another factory last September left more than 3,000 people seeking medical treatment.
Tuesday's leak involved around one litre (around one quart) of chlorine gas and was contained within minutes, a city official told AFP, adding that it had been caused by a technical fault.
The factory was immediately evacuated, along with residents living close to the facility, while nearby roads were closed.
