Chlorine leak at Invercargill factory

Staff and firefighters outside the Blue River dairy factory, 
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Staff and firefighters outside the Blue River dairy factory, Nith St, Invercargill. PHOTO: ALLISON BECKHAM.
An ambulance and a fire engine outside the Blue River dairy 
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An ambulance and a fire engine outside the Blue River dairy factory, Nith St, Invercargill. PHOTO: ALLISON BECKHAM.
A firefighter moves a portable decontamination unit  at the 
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A firefighter moves a portable decontamination unit at the Blue River dairy factory, Nith St, Invercargill. PHOTO: ALLISON BECKHAM.

Emergency services personnel raced to the Blue River Dairy factory in central Invercargill after reports of a chlorine leak about 3.45pm today.

Police cordoned off Nith St, between Ettrick and Teviot Sts, while firefighters arrived in four fire appliances and a fire rescue unit. About 20 staff gathered on the steps of the building.

About 3.10pm, some of the staff went inside, and about 3.15pm an ambulance left the area. It is understood two people were taken to hospital. Shortly afterwards, firefighters began setting up decontamination showers.

The factory, on the site of the former Invercargill town milk treatment plant, processes sheep milk into cheese, butter, milk powder and infant formula. In February the Blue River company and processing plant was sold to Chinese company BlueRiver Nutrition HK.

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