Emergency services at the scene (credit: Essex Fire & Rescue)
Cloud of fumes were seen near Lakeside after the incident in Stoneness Road at around 4.20pm yesterday afternoon.
People living in the area were warned to keep their doors and windows closed.
Some schools in West Thurrock, Purfleet and Chafford Hundred closed today as a precaution.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service worked with a health, safety and environment expertise agency who have assessed the air quality at the site of the chemical leak in Thurrock.
The agency has monitored the air quality across the site, including directly next to the chemical leak, and all the readings have shown that it is well within safe levels.
The Environmental Agency has also been working at the scene.
A spokesperson said: “Our air quality team has been working alongside Public Health England to assess the air quality impact of the chemical leak on the general public.
“We have undertaken off-site air quality monitoring in the vicinity of the site, but following liaison with Public Health England, there are no current plans to continue this.
“As this is a regulated site, we will be supporting an investigation with Health and Safety Executive into the causes of this incident.”
A Public Health England spokesperson said: “Public Health England is content that the air quality monitoring today by the Environment Agency shows that the readings are normal, which means that the risk to public health is low.”
Thurrock Council has also confirmed that all schools will be open as normal tomorrow.
Oliver Road and Stoneness Road have now re-opened.
As part of normal procedures, ECFRS will continue to monitor the site over the coming days.
The fume cloud over West Thurrock last night
At least 10 fire engines were dealing with the incident at its height yesterday.
As a precautionary measure, 15 firefighters were transported to local hospitals overnight and following assessment were released shortly after.
Tags: Purfleet, Thurrock, Chafford Hundred, West Thurrock
