Over 620 Hospitalized After Chlorine Gas Leak in Iraq

2025-08-10 08:23:46

(MENAFN) A chlorine gas leak in Iraq's Shiite holy city of Karbala left more than 621 people suffering from respiratory distress on Sunday, according to the Iraqi Health Ministry.

In a short statement, the ministry confirmed all individuals received medical care at hospitals in Karbala, situated approximately 110 kilometers south of the capital, Baghdad.

The incident occurred early Sunday at a drinking water treatment facility near the city due to a technical malfunction, Major Abbas al-Zaidi of the Karbala police told media.

"Ambulances and civil defense teams immediately responded and sent them to local hospitals," al-Zaidi said, adding that the majority of cases were classified as mild to moderate.

He noted that most of those affected were Shiite pilgrims making their way on foot to Karbala for Arbaeen, a major annual religious observance.

Arbaeen commemorates the end of the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, who was martyred in the battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.

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