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Worthing: Hazardous material 'could have come from ship' Worthing: Hazardous material 'could have come from ship'
(about 2 hours later)
Hazardous material which led to the evacuation of a seaside resort could have come from a nearby boat, investigators have said. Hazardous material that led to the evacuation of a seaside resort could have come from a nearby boat, investigators have said.
A two-mile cordon was put in place on Worthing seafront at about 11:20 BST on Sunday.A two-mile cordon was put in place on Worthing seafront at about 11:20 BST on Sunday.
People reported having sore eyes and two were taken to hospital.People reported having sore eyes and two were taken to hospital.
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The MCA is investigating if the source could have been from a vessel."A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The MCA is investigating if the source could have been from a vessel."
People were urged to stay away from the area and shut windows and doors.People were urged to stay away from the area and shut windows and doors.
Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, South East Ambulance Service and Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Team all attended.Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, South East Ambulance Service and Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Team all attended.
The MCA spokeswoman added: "The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Counter Pollution and Salvage Branch has been informed and is monitoring the situation along with the local authority and Environment Agency. The MCA spokeswoman added: "The MCA is also looking at weather patterns and vessel movements to establish if there were any vessels in the area that were capable of carrying a gas or could have cargo tanks (carrying solid or liquid cargo) which could have been venting at the time."
"The MCA is also looking at weather patterns and vessel movements to establish if there were any vessels in the area that were capable of carrying a gas or could have cargo tanks (carrying solid or liquid cargo) which could have been venting at the time." Police carried out searches with a drone but they could not find out what had happened and ended their investigation.
In August 2017, about 150 people attended hospital reporting sore eyes and vomiting after a chemical haze drifted over Eastbourne.In August 2017, about 150 people attended hospital reporting sore eyes and vomiting after a chemical haze drifted over Eastbourne.
An investigation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs concluded the gas cloud was likely to have come from the Channel. An investigation concluded the gas cloud was likely to have come from the Channel.
It said: "It seems most likely that the source of the gas was a ship, lost cargo, or possibly a wreck."
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