A foul-smelling cloud has drifted from France to the UK making many people panic. On Jan. 22, The Associated Press reported that the gas cloud made it's way from Paris to the shores of Britain, causing alarm. Several people who smelled the gas became concerned, many of them calling their local fire stations.
"France's Interior Ministry released a statement saying the mercaptan gas escaping from the Rouen chemical factory is harmless. Among other uses, mercaptan is added to otherwise odorless municipal gas to alert people of leaks. The factory has been shut down, and environmental authorities are carrying out tests. While authorities reassured residents no to worry, winds carried the smell across hundreds of square miles," reported The Associated Press.
The foul-smelling cloud is said to be harmless but the unpleasant smell is still causing many residents to worry. The London Fire Brigade has received more than five times more calls about potential "gas leaks" than usual. While authorities would always advise residents to call something like this is, authorities are trying to spread the word that the smell is nothing to be concerned about.
The Rouen chemical factory has been shut down and while many officials hoped that the leak would be under control by now, many are still smelling it's residual odor. The smell is so bad that the French Cup soccer game (the Marseille-Rouen match) had to be postponed.
The foul-smelling cloud likely won't dissipate until the leak stops.
© Effie Orfanides 2013
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