Gas Leak Aboard Ship Evacuates New Zealand Port
Firefighters exposed to a gas leak onboard a ship docked in Port Taranaki have been hospitalized.
The port is in lockdown after a 200-liter drum of chemicals leaked and turned into hazardous gas - aluminum phosphide - onboard the Poavosa Wisdom.
Five of the ship’s 21 evacuated crewmembers have also been hospitalized for observation.
The volume of gas coming from the ship is decreasing, however, it will be some time before the leak is fully contained. A change of wind direction to onshore a northeasterly meant fire engines on the wharf had to be moved. Earlier, the gas was heading out to sea.
Another ship on the other side of the wharf was put to sea. Another cargo ship is tied up on the next wharf, a couple of hundred meters away from the one with the leak.
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The gas leak saw everyone evacuated from the port.
The ship, which is carrying a load of wheat, docked in the port after arriving from Australia.