MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

21 Koreans with mechanical respirators

Fifteen crewmembers of the Korean jigger “Sung Kyung” that were intoxicated two weeks ago when an ammoniac gas tank exploded remain connected to mechanical respirators in several Montevideo hospitals.

Another 21 have improved sufficiently as to be taken to Intermediate Care Units while the rest of the 67 originally hospitalized that included fire fighters and port labourers, are back home.

The thousand litres ammoniac gas used for freezing jiggers' hauls exploded early morning Monday May 11, for yet unknown reasons liberating a toxic cloud that covered a square mile in Montevideo's port area and adjoining Old City quarter.

The cause of the explosion which is under Fire Department investigation still has to be revealed.

When the accident Ricardo Levy spokesman for the Uruguayan Fire Department said that the most logic hypothesis was some problem with the tank's valves, "ammoniac leaks are common in refrigerating systems but certainly not of this magnitude".

Ammoniac gas is particularly dangerous for the skin, eyes and respiratory system causing blindness and death by intoxication since it can produce irreparable damage to the lungs.

Uruguayan Justice has also opened an investigation into responsibilities given the magnitude of the accident.