Toxic chemical leak hurts 37

LONDON, Jan 4 (Reuters) Thirty seven people were hurt, one seriously, after a leak of toxic chemicals from a chemical plant in northern England today, site operator BASF and emergency services said.

A spokeswoman for North East Ambulance Service said 37 people were treated at the scene for burns, skin irritations and breathing difficulties.

Seventeen casualties were taken to three hospitals in the area, with one suffering serious burns.

''The thirty seven casualties were decontaminated on site,'' the spokeswoman said.

A BASF spokesman said workers on the site were admitted to hospital after a leak of hexamethylene diamine, a chemical used in the production of acrylic and nylon fibres and plastics at a plant in Seal Sands near Middlesbrough, northern England.

The German chemical company said it would launch an investigation into the incident.

REUTERS DKA HT2040