Fifty workers were injured after a lethal chemical was leaked at a plating factory in the southeastern city of Daegu on Wednesday, authorities said.

Hypochlorite was leaked at the Yeongnam Metal Co. plating factory at around 12:23 p.m., when some workers mistakenly poured the chemical from a truck into a tank filled with sulfuric acid, which produced toxic gas, according to firefighting authorities and company officials.

A total of 50 workers there suffered injuries, and were taken to nearby hospitals, though their injuries were not life-threatening, they added.

There was no explosion or fire reported, and the authorities have been working to prevent a further spread of the chemical.

Though hypochlorite is a chemical commonly used in bleach, water purifiers, and cleaning products, inhaling its gas with more than 0.1 percent of density can cause poisoning and even death,

according to experts.

An investigation into the exact cause of the accident and possible violations of relevant regulations by the company and the workers is under way, police said. (Yonhap)