Emergency response to acid plant leak at Mount Isa

More than a dozen people were treated and four taken to hospital after a gas leak at the Mount Isa Sulphuric Acid Plant. Read the latest.

An emergency situation has unfolded in Mount Isa. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm

More than a dozen people were treated and four taken to hospital after a gas leak at an acid plant in Mount Isa.

Initial reports from the scene were that the Mount Isa Sulphuric Acid Plant on Oban Road had been evacuated at 4.28pm.

Queensland Ambulance Service said at 5.44pm that the incident was ongoing.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said the incident had been contained.

At 6.55pm, QAS confirmed it had assessed 14 patients for suspected gas inhalation, all of which were in a stable condition.

Of those, four were transported to hospital for further treatment, four were taken to the local medical centre, and six didn’t require further treatment.

An Incitec Pivot Fertiliser spokesperson said their Mt Isa site was partway through a scheduled maintenance shutdown and was not operational.

“About 4pm today there was an event at a neighbouring facility that impacted our site and led to 13 people requiring medical assistance,” the spokesperson said.

“Our health and safety protocols ensured that onsite medical staff responded immediately. “Emergency services were alerted and were quickly on site to offer additional support as required.

“Four people were transferred to hospital as a precaution and were all cleared and well enough to go home.”

They said the site had been released by the regulator and the scheduled maintenance shutdown continued.

“We will continue to ensure safe operations for our workforce and the community as part of our ongoing operations,” the spokesperson said.

Originally published as Emergency response to acid plant leak at Mount Isa