HOBE SONGH, Fla. (WFLA) – Evacuation was ordered Thursday morning after a 150-pound cylinder used for water treatment began leaking chlorine gas near a Florida neighborhood.
One person was taken to Jupiter Hospital with life-threatening injuries as a result of the leak, Martin County Firefighters said.
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Several units, including dangerous goods teams in level protective suits, were dispatched to areas where leaks were created near the Southeast Three Streets of Hobsound and the Southeast Dixie Highway.
The crew arrived around 11am and began setting up a 330-foot boundary. All residents within the area were asked to evacuate. Dixie Highway was also closed and the unit worked to remove leaking tanks.
The team was then subjected to a complete decontamination process, with a second crew being dispatched to monitor chlorine gas levels in the area.
According to the CDC, breathing large amounts of chlorine gas can quickly cause breathing problems. People may also experience blurred vision, burning nose emotions, burning throat and lungs, nausea and vomiting, chest tension, and respiratory failure.
On Thursday afternoon, efforts to improve air quality continued, but authorities said the area would soon reopen around noon. No other injuries have been reported.
