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| Brazil fire: Explosion unleashes toxic gas in Santos | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A chemical explosion at a cargo warehouse in Brazil has spread toxic gas over the country's biggest port. | A chemical explosion at a cargo warehouse in Brazil has spread toxic gas over the country's biggest port. |
| The company owners said the containers in Santos were full of acid and a disinfectant which came into contact with rainwater, causing a reaction. | The company owners said the containers in Santos were full of acid and a disinfectant which came into contact with rainwater, causing a reaction. |
| The area's mayor said at least 66 people were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. | The area's mayor said at least 66 people were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties. |
| Officials said the fire had been controlled but that there is still smoke in the area. | |
| The cargo terminal and nearby homes were evacuated and residents were asked to stay inside. | |
| The container terminal was operated by Localfrio, a logistics company, in Guaruja, an area on the eastern side of Santos, in Sao Paulo state. | The container terminal was operated by Localfrio, a logistics company, in Guaruja, an area on the eastern side of Santos, in Sao Paulo state. |
| A spokeswoman for the company, which exports chemicals used for refrigeration and general cargo, said the containers were filled with chloric acid and sodium dichloroisocyanurate - a cleaning and disinfectant agent. | A spokeswoman for the company, which exports chemicals used for refrigeration and general cargo, said the containers were filled with chloric acid and sodium dichloroisocyanurate - a cleaning and disinfectant agent. |
| Firefighters said rainwater had seeped into the containers causing a chemical reaction. | Firefighters said rainwater had seeped into the containers causing a chemical reaction. |
| Local Mayor Mario Antonieta de Brito asked people to stay out of the rain which could "contain chemical elements that can burn the skin". | Local Mayor Mario Antonieta de Brito asked people to stay out of the rain which could "contain chemical elements that can burn the skin". |
| This is the latest in a series of recent incidents involving chemical companies in Brazil: |