---
title: "Nitric Acid Leak of 500 Liters at Ansan Semiconductor Plant: Six Hospitalized"
description: "A leak of about 500 liters of nitric acid occurred at a semiconductor plant in Ansan. Six people were hospitalized with mild symptoms, and the clean-up operation took over four hours."
date: 2026-11-04T00:11:57.060Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ansan-semiconductor-plant-nitric-acid-leak
tags: [south-korea, chemical-leak, nitric-acid, semiconductor, industrial-accident, ansan]
author: "Roman V."
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Nitric Acid Leak of 500 Liters at Ansan Semiconductor Plant: Six Hospitalized

![Police van and barricades near a factory entrance in South Korea](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/04/ansan-chem-leak-semiconductor-factory-nitric-acid/ansan-chem-leak-semiconductor-factory-nitric-acid-1.webp)

## Key Points

- On November 3, about 500 liters of nitric acid spilled during forklift transport at a semiconductor plant in Ansan.
- Six people, including workers, were hospitalized with coughing, eye pain, headaches, and dizziness; injuries are minor.
- Firefighters deployed 16 vehicles and 48 personnel; cleanup finished around 18:57, after more than four hours.
- The Ansan administration issued an emergency warning urging residents to close windows and avoid the area.

On November 3, a chemical leak occurred at a semiconductor component manufacturing plant located in Wongok-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. According to data provided by the South Korean Fire Department and the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and reported by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Seoul, approximately 500 liters of nitric acid spilled from containers. As a result of the incident, six people, including factory workers, sustained minor injuries and were taken to medical facilities.

### Circumstances of the Accident

According to official information, the leak occurred at approximately 14:34 on the same day. Reports indicate that the accident was triggered by a forklift mishap inside the production facilities during cargo handling: depressurization occurred during movement, causing the nitric acid to spill. Law enforcement and security cordons were established at the scene to control access and ensure the safety of the surrounding areas.

### Emergency Response and Clean-up Operations

To contain and mitigate the consequences of the accident, firefighters dispatched 16 pieces of equipment and 48 personnel to the site. The cleanup of contaminated surfaces using absorbent materials and safety measures were completed at approximately 18:57, more than four hours after the incident was reported. Such a prolonged duration reflects the complexity of handling a highly corrosive reagent within an active industrial facility.

### Condition of the Victims

Six people, including factory employees, were hospitalized. The victims exhibited symptoms typical of nitric acid vapor exposure: coughing, foreign body sensation in the eyes, headaches, and dizziness. According to available data, the injuries are classified as minor, and no life-threatening conditions have been reported among the victims.

### Resident Warnings and Safety Measures

At around 15:17, the Ansan city administration issued an emergency warning to the public. Residents living near the incident site were advised to close their windows, while drivers were urged to take detour routes to prevent congestion and collisions in the emergency services' operational zone. These measures aimed to minimize the risk of chemical vapor exposure to the surrounding population.

### Dangers of Nitric Acid

Nitric acid is a highly corrosive chemical substance capable of causing severe bodily harm upon direct contact with the skin or inhalation of its vapors. Therefore, during such incidents, the priority is the rapid containment of the spill, the use of absorbent materials, and the restriction of unauthorized access until cleanup operations are fully completed.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Южная Корея: В результате утечки химических веществ на заводе по производству полупроводников пострадало много людей.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/han-quoc-ro-ri-hoa-chat-o-nha-may-linh-kien-ban-dan-khien-nhieu-nguoi-bi-thuong) - Indicates time (14:34), volume (~500 L of nitric acid), cause (forklift), 6 injured, 16 vehicles and 48 staff, cleanup completion at 18:57, emergency warning at 15:17. Data refers to the fire department and the Korean Ministry of Climate.

## FAQ

### What happened at the plant in Ansan?

On November 3, during cargo transport by a forklift at a semiconductor component plant, a leak of about 500 liters of nitric acid occurred.

### How many people were injured and what is their condition?

Six people, including workers, were hospitalized with coughing, foreign body sensation in the eyes, headaches, and dizziness; injuries were classified as minor.

### How long did the clean-up operation take?

Firefighters deployed 16 vehicles and 48 personnel; cleanup using absorbent materials was completed around 18:57, more than four hours after notification.