Ammonia Wall Averts Toxic Cloud After Chemical Leak Injures 25 at Chempark Dormagen
20.06.2026 - 14:56:23 | boerse-global.de
The quick deployment of a safety system prevented a far worse disaster at the Chempark Dormagen industrial complex on Saturday, when a liquid containing phosgene escaped and injured two dozen workers. Twenty-five employees were hurt in the incident and taken to nearby hospitals; authorities have not yet disclosed the severity of their injuries.
Immediately after the leak, the park’s protective infrastructure activated a so-called steam-ammonia wall, which neutralized the escaping substance and stopped a potentially hazardous phosgene gas cloud from forming. Residents in the surrounding area later reported smelling ammonia, but operators stressed the odor posed no health risk to the public.
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Fire brigades from Dormagen and neighboring Cologne dispatched measurement vehicles to patrol adjacent residential neighborhoods, searching for any airborne concentration of toxic materials. After completing the checks, emergency crews confirmed that no dangerous levels had been detected.
Cologne police have opened an investigation into the cause of the leak. It remains unclear how the phosgene-containing liquid was released. Authorities are examining both technical defects and possible operator errors as potential triggers. The site has been declared stable following the containment and cleanup measures.
