At least five people were killed in Sri Lanka on Thursday after a worker at a rubber factory in Ballapitiya, Horana fell into a tank of ammonia and co-workers and residents tried to save him, police said.
Around 15 people who tried to rescue the worker fell into the tank have lost consciousness and four of them have died.
Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said the factory worker was trying to clean the ammonia tank when he accidentally fell into the tank outside the factory yesterday afternoon.
The unconscious persons are currently being treated at the Horana Hospital for exposure to ammonia which is used in rubber production.
A hospital source confirming the deaths told the Reuters that workers from a next-door garment factory were also affected by the gas and they are being brought to hospital.
The police have arrested the manager of the rubber factory, A.K.D.R Edirisinghe and charged with negligence and the failure to take adequate safety precautions.
