Following an ammonia leak from a fertilizer factory on Wednesday around 20,000 people in China's Hubei Province were evacuated. The incident caused the death of one person and injured six.

 

The incident occurred around 7:50 AM in a nitrogen fertilizer factory in Dawu County when an ammonia pipe broke, said Chen Yixin, assistant general manager of the factory owners the Huangmailing Phosphorus Chemical Industry Group Company. 

 

Firefighters in protective gears wash the site to reduce ammonia leak at Dawu county in central China's Hubei Province November 1, 2006.

 

One worker died at the scene. The injured included three factory workers, a fire fighter, a 16-year-old middle school student making her way to school and a pregnant woman in a nearby village. None of the injured is in critical condition.

 

The leak was stopped at 8:40 AM when a valve on the leaking pipe was closed. About 10 tons of ammonia gas escaped, said Chen.

 

The factory is located in the south of the county and the gas spread quickly in southern areas because of windy weather. Students in schools and residents near the factory were immediately evacuated with the help of local public security, fire fighters and health workers.

 

In shifts the fire fighters sprayed water into the air to dissipate the gas. The smell of ammonia remained in the air on Wednesday evening. However, evacuees began to return home that night. 

 

The cause of the incident is being investigated.

 

Ammonia has a strong odor in large quantities. Low levels of ammonia in the air can harm asthma sufferers, other people with health problems and high levels can cause lung damage or death.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2006)