Man burned in explosion at industrial plant

A man was rushed to hospital with serious chemical burns after an explosion of nitric acid at an industrial complex this morning in Mt Wellington, Auckland.

Four other people were also taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, a Fire Service spokesman told NZPA.

The fire service was called to the testing laboratory in Marua Road to clear away the nitric acid that had spilled.

"They did a decontamination and put the acid into containers to be taken away for disposal," the spokesman said.

Occupational Safety and Health have been notified and are investigating the accident, he said.

- NZPA