UK – Chemical Leak at Cheese Factory in Northern Ireland Sends Five to Hospital

A chemical incident at a cheese processing facility in County Down, Northern Ireland resulted in injuries to 17 individuals on the evening of 6 June. Among those affected were two firefighters. Five people required hospital treatment following the event, which occurred at the Leprino Foods factory near the village of Magheralin.

The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) reported that it responded to the emergency at approximately 22:23 local time. The response team included four fire engines, a Command Support Unit, several ambulances, a Hazardous Area Response Team, a medical doctor, and officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service classified the situation as a ‘Major Incident’ due to the number of casualties. Seventeen individuals received on-site medical attention, and five—including two members of the fire service—were transported to hospital. All have since been released.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the specific chemicals involved in the spill. However, NIFRS stated there was no threat to public safety beyond the immediate area. As a safety measure, a 100-metre exclusion zone was established around the facility. The incident was fully contained with assistance from the factory operator, and emergency crews concluded operations at 04:50 on 7 June.

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