An ammonia leak from an ice factory in Thailand’s Pattaya district has injured about 150 people, local authorities said.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene after receiving a leak alert, finding the leaking ammonia had affected an area with a radius of about one kilometer around the facility.
Eyewitness testimonies confirmed that a strong explosion was heard in the factory, followed by rising smoke, with severe irritation in their eyes and noses as a result of inhaling the leaking gas, as some people lost consciousness.
About 40 people had received first aid by 5 a.m. on Thursday, rising to about 100.
The injured were taken to several local hospitals after receiving first aid, and firefighters shut off all ammonia valves in the plant and sprayed water to neutralize the leaking gas.
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