Port Harcourt — A man walks past polluted farmland in Rukpokwu, Nigeria, January 2004. On 3 December 2003, part of an oil pipeline in Rukpokwu in Rivers State burst, devastating the once fertile land around it

At least three people were killed when chlorine gas being used at a water treatment plant in Nigeria's southeastern Cross River state escaped into nearby homes, residents and state officials said.

New Netim, a small community in the Odukpani district of the state, adjoining the water treatment plant belonging to the Cross River State Water Board, was enveloped by clouds of chlorine gas on 5 July, leading to the death of three people, said resident Ufot James.

"The dead included a woman and two men while several others were hospitalised," James said.

Uma Echeghe, an official of the water board, said the gas escaped from one of 24 chlorine cylinders being used to treat water at the water-pumping station following a sudden power failure. But the official said only one death had been reported to the water board.

"We have apologised to the community and intend to pay compensation to affected people," Echeghe said.

Concern about the safety of chlorine used in the treatment of water in the state was first raised in the capital, Calabar, in May when a similar gas escape affected residential areas in the Ikon Inok and Ediba districts of the city but claimed no fatalities.

Following the May incident, the addition of chlorine to the water supply was moved to the water plant at New Netim which is not as heavily populated as Calabar city, said Echeghe. He added that new safety measures are being put in place to prevent similar accidents.

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]