Twenty people — including a three-year-old girl who suffered breathing difficulties— in Kampung Pasir, Jalan Klang Lama were reportedly rushed to hospital last night following a chlorine gas leak.
According to a report by New Straits Times‘s Hariz Mohd, an explosion had occurred at a house that was used to store chlorine powder.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department operations officer Fathi Kameel Mohd Azri told the daily that the explosion was believed to have been caused by chlorine gas trapped inside a box used to store the chemical.
“We received a call on the incident at 9.32pm A team of firemen from the Seputeh and Pantai stations, and Hazardous Materials team from the KLCC station were dispatched to the scene,” he was quoted as saying.
”Firemen immediately ordered the evacuation of about 20 residents from neighbouring houses and five workers of the cleaning company who resided at the house involved. We also advised residents who had breathing difficulties and itchiness to seek immediate medical attention,” he was quoted further.
He added that 40kg of chlorine powder kept in plastic bags were found inside the house. These were later seized.
According to the NST, several resident claimed that the house — whose owner reportedly runs a pool cleaning company — had been turned into a chemical storage room for the past two years.
