Five people were killed and five others suffered serious injuries after a semi-truck carrying thousands of gallons of a toxic liquid crashed in southern Illinois, according to officials on Saturday.
When the truck overturned late Effingham County, some 105 miles northeast of St Louis, it was hauling around 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia, a poisonous liquid.
4,000 gallons were spilt, and 500 people had to be evacuated, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the Effingham County Coroner’s Office, the fatalities included two children under the age of 12, and three of those deceased were from the same family.
BREAKING UPDATE! Illinois: Kim Rhodes, the Effingham County Coroner, has confirmed that five people, including two children, died as a result of Friday night’s ammonia leak in Teutopolis.
The children and one adult are confirmed to be from the same family, and they are from the… pic.twitter.com/tKaJVlQK0l
— Anny (@anny25717503) September 30, 2023
Five people were injured and transported to nearby hospitals.
