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Gas leak releases toxic cloud in southeastern Brazil

Xinhua, January 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

A gas leak caused a toxic cloud in the Port of Santos in southeastern Brazil Thursday afternoon, making several people hospitalized because of irritation and breathing problems.

The toxic cloud has already reached the towns of Santos and Guaruja, spreading over an area of 10 km. The leak started in a container at a terminal of the Santos Port, and later a fire broke out in the region, damaging 12 containers.

Local Frio, the company that owned the container, said that rain water invaded the container, causing a chemical reaction and thus releasing gas.

According to the company, the substance in the container is sodium chloride isocyanate.

The injured people have received medical care and are not at risk. Authorities recommended that people living near the terminal should go to a farther place. Others are recommended to stay at home so as not to be exposed to the toxic cloud.

Recently, more than one accident has happened in the Santos Port. Last year, a large fire which lasted over a week occurred here. The water used to put out the fire ended up reaching a nearby river and killed thousands of fish. Endi