CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh — An explosion at a chemical fertiliser factory left at least 200 people needing medical treatment after toxic gas spread across large parts of Bangladesh’s second city Chittagong, officials said today. Firefighters battled through the night to halt the leak and finally declared that the situation was under control in the mid-morning. The local police chief Rafiqul Islam confirmed that hundreds of workers from nearby factories had also been ordered to leave their premises. Other officials said that strong winds blew the toxic gas across a 10-kilometre radius and there were reports of people being taken ill at the southern city’s international airport. Authorities mobilised a special team of some 60 firefighters after the explosion triggered panic among people living nearby.

Source: Viet Nam News August 23, 2016 06:00 UTC