New Delhi — Toxic gas leaking from an LG Polymers India Pvt. Ltd. polystyrene factory in Visakhapatnam, India, left at least 11 people dead.
The plant, owned by South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd., was in the process of reopening after a nationwide lockdown that began on March 25 to contain the spread COVID-19.
A night shift maintenance worker discovered the leak in the early hours of May 7. Up to 800 people were hospitalized and another 1,500 were evacuated from the area.
The parent company posted a statement of apology on its website, saying in part: “Currently, we are investigating the exact cause of the incident and scope of damage with the authorities, and will announce the findings at a later time as information becomes more concrete.
“Once again, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the victims and families who have been hurt and affected by this incident, and we promise to do our best to handle the situation and prevent any incident in the future.”
The report precedes a full police investigation and potential charges, according to the Reuters report.