Chemical leak at Turkish port leaves 35 people affected VIDEO

A chemical leak at the Port of Mersin in southern Türkiye left 35 people affected, the Mersin provincial governor’s office said on September 4.

The incident occurred at about 2:20 am local time in the international zone of the port when construction equipment overturned onto a container, causing a leak of ethyl acrylate and a strong odour, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Authorities said measurements by chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear safety units detected no dangerous concentrations of the substance. As a precaution, a safety zone was established around the site, and the container was moved to a secure basin in an isolated area.

The 35 people affected by the strong odour are in good health and remain under medical observation, according to the authorities.

An investigation into the incident has been launched.

Ethyl acrylate is a colourless liquid with a pungent odour used as a raw material in the production of polymers.

By Aghakazim Guliyev