Gas leak in Sharjah affects over 75

Sharjah - Preliminary probe points to sabotage.

As many as 77 workers and police officers were rushed to Al Kuwaiti and Al Qasimi hospitals in Sharjah yesterday afternoon after inhaling gas which leaked from cylinders stored in a factory in Industrial Area 10.
Preliminary police investigation found that the gas cylinder pipes were cut by some people on purpose.
Police said they received a call about the incident and a team of police officers, firefighters and ambulances rushed to the site. On arrival, the police found that several people had fainted after inhaling the gas.
As many as 50 people were admitted to Al Qasimi Hospital but they were all discharged later in the evening after being administered first-aid.
At the Kuwaiti Hospital 27 people were admitted out of which four were retained and the others discharged after first-aid.
One of the victims told Khaleej Times at the Kuwait Hospital that those affected by the gas included people from different companies in the vicinity. People fled as clouds of yellow smoke spread through the area at around 3.15pm. While ambulances and taxis ferried most victims, some made it to the hospitals on their own.
The police have launched an investigation to identify the suspects.
All medical staff at the hospitals, ambulances and police officers were on standby to tackle the tragedy.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Sharjah