Recently, a chemical leak incident occurred at a logistics base in Gu Su District, Suzhou, causing the site to emit white smoke. Authorities reported today (October 10) that there were no casualties.
On the evening of October 9, a netizen in Suzhou posted a video claiming that a logistics company in Suzhou had a chemical leak incident, describing it as “eye-watering and nose-stinging.” The video shows smoke rising from the scene in the dark of night, with several fire trucks rushing to the location with sirens blaring. According to the netizen, the chemical leak occurred at a logistics company in Suzhou, located in the Gu Su District.
On the morning of the 10th, a staff member of the Ecological Environment Bureau of Gu Su District in Suzhou told reporters from Hua Shang Bao Dai Feng News that the chemical leak at the logistics park was brief, with a minimal amount leaked (less than one kilogram). After the incident, the relevant departments used sand to cover the leaked chemicals and then transported them to a hazardous waste disposal unit for processing.
The staff member stated, “At the time of the incident, there was indeed white smoke and a noticeable odor at the scene.” As for the identity of the leaked chemicals, the Suzhou Ecological Environment Bureau will issue a notification after the investigation is completed.
In the afternoon of the 10th, the Emergency Management Bureau of Gu Su District in Suzhou released a report stating that at around 8:50 pm on the 9th, a small amount of a chemical substance (identified as thionyl chloride, slightly acidic and non-flammable) leaked from one barrel inside the Chuan Hua logistics base at 588 Jinzhu Street in Gu Su District.
The relevant departments in Gu Su District completed the disposal at around 1 am on the 10th, the items involved have been temporarily confiscated and sent for inspection, and there were no casualties at the scene. Rapid on-site testing as well as today’s additional testing showed no abnormalities in the ambient air quality data. The specific circumstances are currently under investigation.
Thionyl chloride, also known as sulfuryl chloride, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula SOCl
2
. It is a colorless or yellow fuming liquid with a strong pungent odor, soluble in solvents such as benzene, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. It hydrolyzes in water, starts to decompose at 150°C, mainly used in the production of acyl chlorides, as well as in the manufacturing of pesticides, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and other industries.