Ho Chi Minh City – A chlorine chemical factory burned for four days in Le Minh Xuan commune, Binh Chanh district, killing trees and livestock in large numbers, forcing more than a hundred households to evacuate.
At noon on July 13, fire and smoke billowed from a 1,000 m2 chemical factory of an animal feed company located on Tran Dai Nghia Street, Le Minh Xuan Commune. The fire broke out late on July 9 and has continued until now despite repeated efforts by the police to control it. Smoke and a strong chemical smell spread out to a radius of about 300 meters, forcing many households to move elsewhere.
Living next to the factory that caught fire, Mr. Nguyen Dung, 37 years old, said that his whole family and nearly 20 nearby households had to move to a hotel temporarily after the fire because they “could not bear it”. The smell of chemicals from the factory caused his wife and children to have itchy hands and feet, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness… A relative of Mr. Dung, who lives near the fire, is being treated at Cho Ray Hospital (District 5) due to inhaling toxic gas.
Around the chemical factory, many trees, rice fields with yellow leaves, and puddles of water with scum. Pets such as chickens, dogs, and cats died in large numbers. People renting dozens of rooms nearby also moved away from the fire area.
Ms. Pham Thi Suong, 73 years old, an affected resident, said the fire had been smoldering for several days. In the morning, smoke billowed, and at night, the fire sometimes flared up again. “I have been very tired for the past few days, my throat is sore from inhaling smoke. Up to now, the authorities have not completely handled the fire,” she said, adding that the factory had been in operation for about a year.
A leader of Binh Chanh District Police said that the factory contained chemicals (chlorine powder and limestone) to clean shrimp and fish ponds. Therefore, when a fire broke out, rescue forces could not spray water to extinguish the fire immediately, but pumped water to slowly extinguish the fire and prevent the fire from spreading. Authorities expect that by the end of today, the fire will be under control, and there will be no more toxic smoke.
Currently, local authorities have arranged forces to be on duty at the scene to ensure the safety of the people. According to the leader of the People’s Committee of Le Minh Xuan Commune, after the fire, the factory owner supported many households with the cost of finding temporary housing. The unit is counting the number of households affected to find a solution.
Chlorine is a substance used in industrial production, preparing detergents, disinfectants… However, this substance is very toxic, difficult to smell and has a pungent smell, people working in an environment with chlorine gas need to wear protective gear.
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