'Not the first time'
Chlorine gas leak in Fallujah injures 75
FALLUJAH — A chlorine gas leak at a water treatment plant in the Jubail neighborhood of Fallujah’s Kirkuk district caused inhalation issues for 75 people Sunday morning.
Victims received prompt treatment at Fallujah Teaching Hospital, and numerous families evacuated from the vicinity of the leak. The office of the qaymaqam district attributed the leak to damage to one of the plant’s pipes, with repairs currently in progress.
Ahmed Makhlouf, an official from the media office at Fallujah Teaching Hospital, confirmed to 964media that “the hospital received 75 cases of inhalation issues, including men, women, and children. Immediate measures were taken, and they are all in good condition now, with guidance provided on what to do if such an incident occurs again.”
Waheed Al-Mohammedi, head of the qaymaqam’s office, explained that “initial investigations revealed that the leak was due to a technical fault in one of the main pipes at the water treatment plant, resulting from pipe damage.”
Al-Mohammedi further assured that efforts are being made to prevent future incidents, stating, “We are working diligently to prevent such incidents in the future and are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of citizens.”
Othman Mohammed, a resident affected by the gas, recounted the event, noting, “This morning, the Jubail neighborhood witnessed cases of inhalation issues, which is not the first time; we had a similar incident years ago. We detected a strong, unusual smell and immediately moved my family away from the area.”
“Today, we experienced difficulty breathing and irritation in the eyes and throat. Everyone was in a state of panic and concern for their families, and we went to the hospital for medical care. Thankfully, we are fine now,” Mohammed added.