GLIDE Number: CH-20070721-12456-USA
Date / time: 21/07/2007 12:08:22
Event: Chemical Accident
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Colorado
City: Berthoud
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor
Description:
A chlorine explosion at a water treatment plant in Colorado has left four people hurt and the facility heavily damaged. A Berthoud (BUR'-thud) Fire spokeswoman blames it on an interaction involving chemicals that were being unloaded at the plant.Authorities advised 500 people to leave nearby homes as a precaution while crews cleaned up.
Chlorine is used to disinfect water but is toxic as a gas and poses a risk of fire and explosion.The manager for Colorado's Little Thompson Water District says the disruption shouldn't cause any water-quality problems because other plants in the system are still operating.
None of the injuries is considered serious.
More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&cid=12456