At a chemical plant, 50 kg of chlorine were released from chlorine evaporator in the electrolytic chlorine-alkali process during normal operation..

The alarm was sounded and the the population was alerted. The plant was shut-down and the system was isolated. The evaporator was emptied through the chlorine destroyer system.

No personal injuries were reported during the toxic release. There is no evidence of significant ecological harms. No material losses except the cost of the escaped chlorine.

The leak was caused by an internal corrosion in a weld between a pipe and a perforated metal sheet of the chlorine evaporator into the hot water system. Because of insufficient maintenance/inspection procedures, corrosion of the weld was not detected Besides, the maintenance/inspection procedures were not correctly followed.