Japan http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20100108p2a00m0na012000c.html Explosion at chemical plant in Yokohama leaves 8 injured Firefighters battle the fire at Japan Carlit Co.'s Yokohama plant in Yokohama's Kanazawa Ward at 7:20 p.m. on Thursday. (Mainichi) YOKOHAMA -- Ten people were injured in an explosion at a chemical plant explosion here on Thursday evening, police said. The explosion is believed to have originated at the center of Japan Carlit Co.'s Yokohama plant in Yokohama's Kanazawa Ward at around 5:50 p.m. A subsequent fire razed eight buildings before it was brought under control around 2 1/2 hours later. Eight employees and two passers-by were left with mild injuries. This is the second explosion accident at the plant, following one that left one employee dead and another injured in April 2008. Three employees, including the former plant manager, were reported to prosecutors on suspicion of professional negligence leading to death and injury over the case, and a company official announced that the plant had stopped handling any explosive substances. "We have strived to prevent a similar problem since the last accident. We sincerely apologize for the damage we've caused," said President Isao Isa. === China http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/07/content_12772684.htm Chemical plant explosion kills two in NW China www.chinaview.cn 2010-01-07 21:27:14=09 LANZHOU, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two people were confirmed dead Thursday after a chemical plant exploded in northwest China's Gansu Province, said local officials. The blast happened at around 5:30 p.m. at a chemical plant in the provincial capital of Lanzhou, which was operated by the Lanzhou Chemical Company of the China National Petroleum Corporation, the country's largest oil and gas producer, the officials said. The site was 30 kilometers away from downtown, and 500 meters away from the nearest residential quarter, which was not affected, they said. The precise casualties, property losses were not yet known. The cause of the accident is under investigation. === Massachusetts http://www.wickedlocal.com/concord/news/x1793474887/Patients-stable-at-Eme rson-after-contamination-incident-in-Maynard Patients 'stable' at Emerson after contamination incident in Maynard By Patrick Ball/Staff Writer Wed Jan 06, 2010, 05:26 PM EST CONCORD - Three patients are =93clinically stable=94 after being contaminated with an unknown chemical or biological substance, Emerson Hospital and Concord Fire officials said Wednesday afternoon. Hospital spokesman Bonnie Goldsmith and Concord Fire Chief Mark Cotreau did not identify the three patients, who were transported to Emerson from the State Police Crime Lab, on Acton Street in Maynard, earlier in the afternoon Jan. 6. In an interview at the hospital, Cotreau said emergency officials were waiting for more information about the substance from the HAZMAT team and others who had first responded to the crime lab before deciding how to proceed. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was not clear if the patients would be required to stay the night. Emerson Hospital called the fire department for help with the decontamination process, Cotreau said. =93We came up here and we assisted the hospital about three people who were being transported,=94 he said. Goldsmith said whether the hospital works collaboratively with local fire departments on chemical exposure incidents such as this one depends a number of variables, including the seriousness of the incident, the number of people in the Emergency Department and the size of staff on hand to help. === Australia http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/991589/houses-evacuated-after-chemical -leak Residents return after chemical leak Evacuated residents have returned home after a chemical leaking from a central western NSW recycling facility was deemed to be harmless. Two people were decontaminated and one of them - a 48-year-old man - was taken to Lithgow Hospital after being exposed to a gel-like chemical seeping from a military ordnance at the recycling facility. About 210 people and 50 houses and businesses surrounding the Inch Street facility at Lithgow were evacuated after a forklift punctured a cannister marked "military ordnance" about 3pm (AEDT) on Thursday, emergency services said. By 10pm (AEDT) evacuated residents were allowed to return home after the substance was deemed to no longer pose a threat and once it had been contained within the facility, Fire Brigades Superintendent Ian Krimmer said. Hazmat crews, a scientific officer and a "mobile scientific laboratory" had been flown to the scene from Sydney to identify the chemical, Supt Krimmer said. "It's now been determined that the device contains a chemical of a hydrocarbon-based nature," he told AAP, adding the substance was gel-like and flammable. "But we are still conducting further analysis." A common hydrocarbon is petrol. Crews would continue their investigation through the night and into tomorrow, Supt Krimmer said. Police said "a small number of people suffered a burning sensation" after being exposed to the substance. === http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_007131812.html?keyword=topst ory Massachusetts Chemical odor forces Hannah evacuation Cate Lecuyer BEVERLY =97 Administrators evacuated Hannah Elementary School just before 12:30 p.m. after a teacher smelled an unknown odor that turned out to be drain cleaner. Principal Susan Snyder immediately announced the evacuation, pulled the fire alarm, and called the Fire Department. Beverly Fire Capt. Jeff Sirois said the sulfur-like odor came from the art room. =93We believe one of the janitors was cleaning out a clogged sink,=94 he said. The smell permeated the room, but was not dangerous. =93There should be no health risk at all,=94 he said. Firefighters aired out the building with a fan. Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer**At_Symbol_Here**salemnews.com
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