62 workers rushed to hospital
2006-05-10 13:06
Cape Town - Sixty-two factory workers were rushed to different hospitals after an ammonia leak at an ice cream factory in Crawford in Cape Town on Wednesday, officials said.
Municipal disaster management spokesperson Johan Minnie said a chemical smell and "chemical visibility in the air" were reported by a member of the public.
"Our personnel rushed to the scene and the leak of ammonia was contained."
Minnie said factory workers were evacuated and two pupils from a nearby school were being treated at the scene.
Workers from nearby factories were also evacuated.
The cause of the leak had not been established and investigations would follow after the assessment of damage was complete.
The factory has been closed until it was safe to resume production.
Metro police, emergency health personnel and the fire brigade were also at the scene, Minnie said.
- SAPA