The police say that the source is offshore from a ship dumping material.
Since 11 am, residents across Ashdod have been reporting a sharp chemical odor. Municipal teams are scouring the city, and the police say that the source is offshore from a ship dumping material at sea.
Nine children have been taken ill. The police, Magen David Adom and the Fire and Rescue Services have set up an emergency center. While no one is being treated, there are complaints about a smell of gas and of burning eyes. The Ashdod police chief says that there is no danger of explosion at the current concentration.
"Instructions have been given to children to open windows and some have been ordered outside," said Ashdod Municipality's spokesman. "Some parents have taken their children out of school, although there is no order from the municipality of the Ministry of Education to release them."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 20, 2014
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