|
. | . |
|
by Staff Writers Seoul (AFP) Oct 6, 2012 Dozens of South Korean villagers evacuated to a temporary shelter Saturday following a toxic chemical leak in the southeastern city of Gumi as officials assessed the extent of the damage. About 70 elderly residents left their village Bongsan in Gumi by two buses to neighbouring Baekhyeon six kilometres (3.7 miles) away, to avoid the fallout from the September 27 leak of around eight tonnes of hydrofluoric acid. "We decided to get out of this village to avoid health risks," village leader Park Myung-seok told journalists, demanding local government authorities provide them with proper shelters. The village is home to about 300 people, and the disaster management office in Gumi said the remaining residents would be evacuated in stages. People in nearby Imcheon village are also demanding evacuation, Yonhap news agency said. According to health officials more than 600 people, including local residents and firefighters, have required treatment following the leak of hydrofluoric acid at chemical maker Hube Global's factory in Gumi. Five people were killed in an initial explosion that led to the leak as workers were unloading acid from a tanker. But the fallout from the incident may have been far more damaging than originally thought, and a 26-member team of experts and government officials began a three-day probe Friday to gauge the severity of the situation. The hundreds treated for inhaling toxic fumes from the leak complained of nausea, chest pain, rashes, sore eyes and scratchy throats. Some of them found blood in their saliva. Crops and fruit on more than 90 hectares (222 acres) of land have withered, and some 1,300 livestock animals have been exhibiting symptoms similar to a cold, Yonhap news agency said. The government has considered designating the affected area as a disaster zone, which would mean residents could be eligible for financial aid, tax cuts and compensation.
Related Links Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement |