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| West Thurrock chemical leak: Schools and roads closed | West Thurrock chemical leak: Schools and roads closed |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Schools have been closed and an exclusion zone is in place after a chemical leak saw clouds of hydrochloric acid form in the sky. | Schools have been closed and an exclusion zone is in place after a chemical leak saw clouds of hydrochloric acid form in the sky. |
| Essex Fire and Rescue Service set up a 100-metre exclusion zone after the leak at International Chemicals Group Limited, West Thurrock, on Monday. | Essex Fire and Rescue Service set up a 100-metre exclusion zone after the leak at International Chemicals Group Limited, West Thurrock, on Monday. |
| Residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed and to remain inside. | Residents have been advised to keep their doors and windows closed and to remain inside. |
| The leak was caused by a tank that failed, the fire service said. | The leak was caused by a tank that failed, the fire service said. |
| People are being asked to avoid the area and Stoneness and Oliver Road remain closed. | People are being asked to avoid the area and Stoneness and Oliver Road remain closed. |
| The fire service has recommended that schools in West Thurrock, Purfleet and Chafford Hundred remain closed as "as a precaution to prevent pupils from being exposed to fumes coming from the site which can be a minor irritant". | The fire service has recommended that schools in West Thurrock, Purfleet and Chafford Hundred remain closed as "as a precaution to prevent pupils from being exposed to fumes coming from the site which can be a minor irritant". |
| Belmont Castle Academy in Grays, Harris Chafford Hundred Academy and Tudor Court Primary, both in Chafford Hundred, have confirmed they are closed. | Belmont Castle Academy in Grays, Harris Chafford Hundred Academy and Tudor Court Primary, both in Chafford Hundred, have confirmed they are closed. |
| Rick Hylton, deputy chief fire officer, said it had been a "very complicated incident" but the leak was now contained. | Rick Hylton, deputy chief fire officer, said it had been a "very complicated incident" but the leak was now contained. |
| He added it would be resolved in "hours and not days" as crews are working to reduce the gas cloud. | He added it would be resolved in "hours and not days" as crews are working to reduce the gas cloud. |
| International Chemicals Group said the leak was from a chemical storage facility at its Stoneness Avenue site. | |
| Managing director Edwin Strang said a failure with pipework resulted in three tanks discharging hydrochloric acid into a bunded area, created to protect the environment. | |
| He apologised for the inconvenience caused, said an investigation had begun and "corrective action" would be taken. | |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| By Chris Flynn, BBC News | By Chris Flynn, BBC News |
| Lorries and people who work within the site are being prevented from entering the site and being moved on as they stop on the roundabout which leads to Stoneness Road. | Lorries and people who work within the site are being prevented from entering the site and being moved on as they stop on the roundabout which leads to Stoneness Road. |
| It is unclear how long this closure will remain in place but workers from businesses on site have been telling me they are going home until they receive further updates. | It is unclear how long this closure will remain in place but workers from businesses on site have been telling me they are going home until they receive further updates. |
| The advice from the fire service from locals is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed and to call 111 if you feel unwell. | The advice from the fire service from locals is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed and to call 111 if you feel unwell. |
| Neil Fenwick, area manager for the fire service, said: "We understand that the cloud includes an amount of hydrochloric acid. | Neil Fenwick, area manager for the fire service, said: "We understand that the cloud includes an amount of hydrochloric acid. |
| "We now know that these fumes were caused by a tank that has failed, the leak is contained to within the site." | "We now know that these fumes were caused by a tank that has failed, the leak is contained to within the site." |
| Ten crews attended from Grays, Orsett, Basildon, Rayleigh Weir, Corringham, Billericay and Wickford. | Ten crews attended from Grays, Orsett, Basildon, Rayleigh Weir, Corringham, Billericay and Wickford. |
| The Environment Agency is on site and has deployed air quality monitoring equipment. | The Environment Agency is on site and has deployed air quality monitoring equipment. |