MA Industries (Makhteshim Agan) (TASE: MAIN) of the IDB group, which owns the Agan Chemicals plant in Ashdod, has reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on injuries and damage caused by the fire that broke out at the plant yesterday. The company says that eight people suffered injuries from smoke inhalation, five of them workers at the plant. It says the plant has returned to full operation.
The company also said that it had appointed an internal committee to investigate the circumstances of the incident, but that the plant was now working normally. It said the emergency team at the plant acted according to procedures for dealing with the fire, and that the emergency services helped to bring the incident to a close within a short time.
The company made clear that the incident would have no material effect on its activity or profits.
The fire is thought to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. The plant is located in the heavy industry zone in Ashdod, and the Ministry of the Environment said at the end of the incident that its hazardous materials team had so far found no concentration of harmful materials in the air. Residents of north Ashdod, and the nearby settlements of Kibbutz Nir Galim and Moshav Gan Darom were told to remain in their homes with all windows shut yesterday.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 15, 2009
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