Lahore chemicals warehouse catches fire; evacuation underway

LAHORE: A chemicals warehouse located in a suburb of Lahore caught fire this evening, but no casualties have been reported so far, Geo News reported.

The sources, reporting from a safe distance in Dilli Gate area, an urban center of the city, told Geo News the noxious fumes of different hazardous chemical substances particularly ammonia were pervading the area fast making it hard for the local residents to breathe.

"The fumes exuding from the burning warehouse are causing eyes to burn and skin to itch are especially harmful for those who are allergic to these chemicals, so we are leaving the area until it is safe for us to return", said a local resident.

Evacuation was underway by the time of filing this report.

"The people living in the neighborhood were fleeing the fumes, which according to health experts are terribly injurious to health", the sources added.

Dense fumes could be seen rising into the air from the warehouse, said the sources, who could not reach the spot owing to fears of serious health hazards.

Rescue 1122 is busy putting down the fire right now.

"The warehouse is inundated with chemicals as the plastic drums they are stored in are exploding open due to fire. We are are trying to douse it with sand as water and other extinguishing agents do not work on this kind of blaze", said a rescue official.

There was no word on casualties.