KAFR EL-SHEIKH, Cairo – Some 850 people in Desouq, a city of the Delta Govenorate of Kar el-Skeikh chocked from the leakage of chlorine gas from a cylinder on Monday , the Middle East News Agency reported. The poisonous gas leaked from a cylinder at a scrape iron shop owned by Abdu el-Guindi, a resident of the same city. The gas leaked by coincidence when the cylinder cap dropped upon unloading a vehicle carrying 27 cylinders. The gas spread into the air causing the suffocation of nearby residents. The Police, firemen and municipal council members rushed to the site in an attempt to rescue the victims. Undersecretary of Minister of Health in kafr el-Shikh Lamis el-Maaddawi told the local media that all cases received first aid and were released from hospital. An ad-hoc committee of the environment, civil defense and industrial safety departments is to probe the availability of safety equipment for the city shops.
