At 8:23 a.m. today (August 12), a 119 emergency report was received stating that chlorine gas had leaked in a cleanroom on the second floor of the Korea Nano Technology Institute in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

Responding to a report from a facility official stating that "an alarm bell is ringing due to a chlorine gas leak," the fire authorities were dispatched to the scene, restricted access, and initiated safety measures.

About 200 people inside the facility were temporarily evacuated, and no casualties were reported.

However, as fire authorities inspected the scene alongside relevant agencies by measuring hazardous gas leakage levels, no actual signs of a leak were found.

Consequently, police lifted the access restrictions on the facility at around 11:30 a.m., about three hours later.

Chlorine gas is classified as a toxic chemical under the Chemicals Control Act, as inhaling it affects the respiratory system and can cause vomiting, pulmonary edema, and breathing difficulties.

Police plan to investigate the exact circumstances of the incident, leaving open the possibility of a sensor malfunction.

(Photo: Yonhap News)