Humberside chemical explosion injures four
Author : Amy Hollamby
05 March 2010
Four people have been taken to hospital suffering from chemical burns after a cloud of toxic gas escaped following an explosion in a chemical vessel at approximately 12.30am on the 5th March at a factory on the river Humber near Grimsby.
Near the mouth of the River Humber
The casualties also inhaled toxic fumes after titanium tetrachloride gas escaped from the Cristal Global chemical plant. The estuary was closed off to shipping for several hours after the chemical leak.
The incident has been contained by at least 10 fire crews who used a blanket of foam to contain the spillage. Residents in the surrounding area are not at risk from the fumes, as the gas is dissipating naturally and wind is blowing what remains of the gas cloud across rural land and out to sea.
Cristal Global, based at Stallingborough on the Humber's south bank, specialises in making titanium-based products.
Officials from the Health and Safety Executive are expected to launch an investigation.