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

A resident, who requested anonymity, told 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.