The ammonia leak happened on the chemical plant "Symukhimprom", located on the outskirts of Sumy. The impact area is from 2.5 to 5 kilometers.
On Monday morning, Sumy regional military governor, Dmytro Zhyvytskyiy, posted to his official Telegram.
"Attention! March 21, 2022. 04:30. Sumykhimprom's ammonia leak!" He wrote.
Dmytro Zhyvytskyi warned that ammonia is lighter than air, so shelters, basements and lower floors should be used for protection.
Dmytro Zhyvytskyi stressed that there is no threat to Sumy at the moment: the wind is not in the direction of the city.
Initially, it was reported that the affected area was 5 km; one later reported a reduction to about 2.5 km. Given the direction of the wind, the village of Novoselytsia was under threat.
Currently, emergency crews of the plant and the State Emergency Service (SES) are working on the spot.
Updated 08:03. The emergency is localized, the SES said. A bandage was placed on the damaged pipeline, and SES units continued to work on depositing the ammonia cloud. As a result of the event, one person was injured (an enterprise employee).
Ammonia - is a colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor, explosive, toxic. It is lighter than air, so it is necessary to use shelters, basements, and lower floors of houses for protection.
You should breathe through a wet gauze bandage (preferably moistened with 5% vinegar or citric acid).
In the case of ammonia poisoning, the victim should go out into the fresh air, give warm milk with baking soda, put on a cotton gauze bandage soaked in water (preferably 5% acetic or citric acid solution).
In the case of contact with eyes - rinse eyes with water or wipe with Vaseline or olive oil. In case of skin lesions - wash with clean water make lotions with 5% vinegar or citric acid solution.