The chlorine gas leak at the water treatment plant was attended to last night and the air has been cleared after the leak was closed off.

A resident, who requested anonymity, told the Middelburg Observer that there was no explosion and that the leak was caused by a fitting on a gauge of the chlorine cylinder which had popped off.

The source responded to the scene, where he closed of the leak in person, with the assistance of a resident from Waterval Boven.

The chlorine gas leak took place at roughly 19:20 last night, and numerous residents located near the plant were evacuated from their homes due to the toxic gasses emitted into the air.

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Angered residents turned to the Machadodorp Praat Saam WhatsApp group where they expressed their frustrations over the poor management and response of the leak.

The residents questioned why the fire department failed to address the leak and the fact that no efforts were made to administer medical treatment to affected residents.

VF+ representative, Frans Burger further commented that a local physician and paramedic came to the aid of residents, offering their services.

“We would like to know why the fire department was not equipped with the necessary PPE to attend to the leak and why a member of the public finally jumped in to close it off himself? We would also like to know why no decontamination or medical treatment was issued to residents?”

Mr Burger further wished to thank Dr Caren Ysel and the paramedic, Alexa Steenkamp, for offering treatment to residents.

While Mr Burger did thank the resident who volunteered to address the leak, the man himself did not want to be identified.