Five hospitalised in Perth after ammonia gas leak at CSPB plant

A chemical emergency at an industrial site exposed five workers to a deadly gas, prompting concerns it would spread to surrounding suburbs.

The Jetty terminal south of Perth was shut down and surrounding roads were closed during the emergency which started around 10.30am on Saturday, The Sound Telegraph reported. 

Five people were rushed to hospital following the leak and witnesses said they saw a cloud of thick white smoke roll down the road. 

The plant (pictured)  was shut down, sirens blared and workers were told to evacuate

One witness, who was sitting in his car close to the plant said the smell alone was enough to burn.

‘I thought it was just rain coming through until I was hit with the smell of ammonia,’ said John Majkovski.

‘It burnt my throat and eyes and I just wound my windows up immediately.’

The plant fell into chaos as sirens blared and a voice over the loudspeaker shouted to  evacuate.

Fourteen fire crews rushed to the scene after someone had reported there had been an explosion.

Things calmed down after the leak was quickly shut off by an automated computer that detected the issue.  

The five men are now in a stable condition and one has returned home from hospital. 

One witness who saw the thick cloud of smoke said it burnt his eye and throat

St John Ambulance confirmed it had taken people to hospital after they inhaled ammonia and later tweeted that their exposure to the chemical was not life-threatening. 

The leak occurred during a routine unloading of liquid form of the ammonia from a supply ship to a CSBP storage tank.

During the process a small amount of ammonia gas was released into the atmosphere.    

A spokesperson for the plant said that he did not think the leak was a result of system failure.  

‘There was no impact on any of the surrounding industries and no explosion.’