People living close to the scene of a chemical explosion were urged to stay indoors as emergency crews tackled a caustic soda leak following a blast at a chemical plant.
One employee received a minor injury in the explosion at Industrial Chemicals Ltd, in West Thurrock, Essex, at around 8pm on Thursday.
Essex Police asked residents to stay inside their homes and keep their windows and doors closed following reports of “a strong chlorine smell in the area”.
Safety experts later declared the blast site safe and said there was no longer any danger to the public.
Divisional officer Neil Fenwick of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “We have had assurances from chemical experts on site that there is no risk to the public.
“A small tank of diluted caustic soda exploded and the contents drained away into an interception tank and was contained on site.”
The injured man received treatment to his shin at the scene.
The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and the cause of the explosion is being investigated.
