Firefighters had to decontaminate a worker injured and splashed with medical waste in a gas explosion in Dunedin's industrial area this morning. The worker was washed down with fire hoses outside the Dunedin branch of Interwaste which handles waste for healthcare facilities and "biosecurity risks". Photo: Stephen JaquieryA Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they received a report of a boiler exploding and a gas leak at the company's Ward St premises. He confirmed one person had been decontaminated after getting ‘‘debris’’ on them, believed to be medical waste. Ward St has been closed.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 08, 2026 20:00 UTC