Twelve people were and 11 injured in a fire at a chemical plant in Saudi Arabia’s east, a state-run news agency said on Saturday.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the fire in al-Jubail happened around 11.40 am on Saturday at the Jubail United Petrochemical Co. The news agency quoted the company as saying the fire began during maintenance at the plant.
The company also said the fire caused thick black smoke. The victims suffocated from fumes of burning chemicals, he said. Another 11 employees were injured, six of them left in “serious state”.
The website for Sabic, a chemical conglomerate based in Riyadh, says the firm holds a 75% stake in al-Jubail United Petrochemical Co. Sabic did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
