Five people were poisoned due to a chlorine gas leak in southern China.

CCTV footage filmed in the city of Liuzhou in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on February 17 shows a large amount of light yellow gas gushing out of an iron canister near a man and quickly spreading, covering the entire area in just 30 seconds.

The colour of the gas quickly changed from light yellow to yellow in the process.

A village official stated that a driver had transported iron canisters to the area to be dismantled and sold for scrap. One of the canisters leaked causing the person standing next to it to be poisoned and fall into a coma.

The person was treated and is not in a life-threatening condition now.

The incident caused five people to be poisoned in total but their vital signs are stable. One of the poisoned individuals went to the hospital for treatment and the other four are under observation.

According to the Emergency Management Bureau of Liujiang District, the initial investigation found that the driver transported the canister without authorisation and the chlorine gas leaked out from a damaged canister.

The official said that the chlorine gas leak did not cause widespread environmental pollution and it has been handled.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

2月17日，广西柳州，三千村一处空地出现气体泄漏，监控显示在一处空地上，一人正在较远处位置走动。17时19分，此人走近一处黑色物体时，突然有大量淡黄色的气体涌出，并快速蔓延，仅30秒左右，气体将整片空地覆盖，且颜色由淡黄色变为黄色。
三千村村干部称，有司机把铁罐运输在那准备拆解卖钱，铁罐内氯气泄漏致一人中毒昏迷，经治疗已无大碍。此外，该村干部称，此次氯气泄漏并没有造成大面积环境污染，“村里的环保卫生等检测都做了，都没有问题。”
柳州市柳江区人民政府值班室一工作人员回应称，17日下午，三千村附近确实发生一起氯气泄漏事故。据目前掌握的消息，此次氯气泄漏事故造成5人中毒，目前5人的生命体征平稳。事发后，一名中毒人员自行前往医院接受住院治疗，另有4名人员在医院观察，“一个人比较严重，在医院住院，另外四个情况比较平稳，没有什么症状，在医院观察。”
据柳江区应急管理局消息，初步调查系司机私自运输罐体，罐体破损致氯气泄漏。
2月20日，从柳州进德镇政府回应称，三千村氯气泄漏已处理完毕。