A chemical leak from a container aboard a cargo ship in the Port of Antwerp sent roughly 130 people to hospitals as a precaution and left one worker in intensive care, authorities said late Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 20:19 local time on the MSC Mia Summer II at the Deurganck Dock in the Waasland Harbour expansion. Initial reports identified the substance as hydrogen fluoride leaking through a hole roughly 10 by 10 centimetres, though other accounts said the substance was probably sulphuric acid. No elevated concentrations were detected outside the harbour zone.
Beveren-Waas Mayor Marc Van de Vijver confirmed the incident to Belgian media, adding that one employee remained in intensive care. The cause of the leak was not immediately clear.