60 people poisoned after semi-trailer truck containing chlorine gas cylinders overturns in Iran

Tehran: A chlorine gas leakage in the central Iranian province of Isfahan poisoned 60 people, official news agency IRNA reported.

At 13:40 local time on Sunday, it was reported that a semi-trailer truck carrying chlorine gas cylinders had overturned on an intercity road in Shahreza County, 80 km south of the provincial capital Isfahan, Xinhua news agency reported.

Following the accident, rescue teams were immediately sent to the scene, Mansour Shishehforoush, Director General of the Provincial



Crisis Management Department, said.

Due to the chlorine gas leakage from one of the cylinders, 60 people in nearby areas suffered pulmonary toxicity and were immediately transferred to medical centres, said Shishehforoush.

He added that teams from the Provincial Crisis Management Department, the Red Crescent Society, traffic police and law enforcement agencies had restored safety in the area, allowing the road where the incident took place to reopen.