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Nitric acid leak in Boucherville, Que., 'no danger' to residents, city says

The Longueuil fire department was alerted to a gas leak in Bouchervillle Friday morning. (Benoit Gagnon/Radio-Canada - image credit)
The Longueuil fire department was alerted to a gas leak in Bouchervillle Friday morning. (Benoit Gagnon/Radio-Canada - image credit)

An industrial leak of nitric acid on Montreal's South Shore is under control, the city of Boucherville said in a statement this afternoon.

Since about 10:45 a.m., Longueuil police have been asking people to avoid Marie-Victorin Boulevard near de la Barre Street in Boucherville because of a gas leak.

The city says the safety perimeter of 300 metres in the industrial park is being maintained but there is no danger for people who live nearby.

"Air quality tests done by the Environment Ministry's mobile lab show no presence of any dangerous substance in the residential area," the statement said.

"There is no danger for residents, who can go about their normal daily activities, as long as they avoid the safety perimeter and that, until emergency crews are finished there."

The leak happened at a reservoir of Celanese — a chemical industry company — located at 75 de la Barre Street.

A plume of orange-coloured smoke was seen coming from the plant.

Longueuil's fire department (SSIAL) was notified about the leak around 10:30 a.m. It did not confirm the kind of gas that escaped.

Benoit Gagnon/Radio-Canada
Benoit Gagnon/Radio-Canada

Daniel Deslauriers, SSIAL division chief, said the safety perimeter around the reservoir led to the evacuation of about a dozen businesses between Marie-Victorin and du Fort Saint Louis boulevards. For a few hours, around 80 homes nearby were asked to keep their windows closed.