Sharjah: 1 dead, 93 rescued in Al Sajja gas leak

In an incident that is apparently caused by illegal cutting of the cylinders to be sold as scrap, Sharjah Police and Civil Defence units were able to rescue 93 workers who were exposed to a Chlorine gas leak in a labour accommodation in Al Sajja Industrial Area in Sharjah, killing one person and sending 93 others to the hospital.

Authorities are now looking for the man who sold the chlorine gas cylinder to a scrap company where the gas leak occurred. The deceased, a Pakistani national, lost his life in Al Qassimi Hospital shortly after being admitted.

According to police, the Operations Room received a call at 12:55 AM on Saturday stating that a gas leak had occurred, teams rushed to the site with Brigadier Mohammad Rashid Bayat, director of Sharjah Police Operations, Brigadier Dr Khalifa Kalendar, director of police comprehensive stations, and Colonel Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, director of Sharjah Civil Defence.

Sharjah Police disposed of the gas cylinder with the help of environment authorities as a precaution to prevent any further gas leak. Sharjah Police urges hazardous material transports to comply with applicable environmental requirements and safety regulations.