A commotion broke out at an industrial machinery manufacturing plant in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, when a leak of odorant (Buchuje) led to reports of toxic gas.
According to the Gyeongnam Fire Department, at around 9:37 a.m. on the 19th, residents reported a "strange smell" near an industrial machinery manufacturing plant in Naesam Industrial Complex, Juchon-myeon.
Firefighters are spraying water inside a factory where gas is leaking. Photo by Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters
Fire authorities who responded to the scene found that the valve of a 350-liter high-pressure storage container was partially open, causing gas to leak out.
A portable detector at the scene initially detected hydrogen sulfide, a toxic substance, and fire authorities and police cordoned off the area to check the amount of the leak.
The city of Gimhae sent out disaster alert messages urging citizens to avoid the area and refrain from going outside, while the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office issued a "concern" level crisis alert.
Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless toxic gas with a foul odor, and prolonged exposure can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, coughing, fatigue, convulsions, pulmonary edema, and even death.
Firefighters are organizing the area around the storage container where gas is leaking and checking its condition. Photo by Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters
However, after a detailed analysis by Gimhae City, fire authorities, Nakdong River Office, and Korea Gas Safety Corporation, the leaked substance was identified as odorant (Buchuje), resolving the incident.
Odorant is a substance added to gas to make leaks or evaporation detectable by smell, and it has a distinctive odor.
It dissipates into the air within a few hours and is not harmful to humans in small amounts, but prolonged exposure to high concentrations can be detrimental to health.
The incident occurred during the installation of an odorant storage container purchased from a scrap dealer, when the valve was not properly closed.
The container involved in the incident was secured with a locked valve and plastic seal, then sent to a nearby chemical disposal company.
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