Bromine Spill Leaves Cheylabinsk, Russia Covered In Gas Cloud (VIDEO)

A story that should only happen in horror movies seems to have come very real.

At least 42 people were hospitalized in the Russian town of Cheylabinsk following the leakage of potentially deadly bromine gas from a passing train, according to the BBC. There have been conflicting reports that as many as 207 of the city's 1.1 million residents sought medical attention following the incident.

According to UPI, 10.5 to 13.2 gallons of bromine apparently leaked and floated over a portion of the city after glass jars containing the substance cracked when the train went over a rail hump. City officials said that there shouldn't be any serious damage from the incident, but were nonetheless encouraging people to stay inside. Russia Today reports that an estimated 100 firemen were involved in the relief operation, and a "cloud of toxic was clearly visible over some districts of Chelyabinsk."

In an odd twist, UPI reports that there is some lore around the substance:

An urban legend surrounding the potentially lethal chemical claims that bromine is used by the military to suppress sexual desire in soldiers. One Twitter user, Simwhite, commented that people in Chelyabinsk will face "a year without sex," the Times said.

WATCH:

Comments

[fredgladys]

05:22 PM on 09/28/2011

I'm sure that emperor Putin will save the day.

[Roadrun]

08:44 AM on 09/05/2011

Because we can't point to the lack of a cloud of deadly gas or a river of toxin under a housing subdivision or such strong fumes in high traffic that people get sick there are people who can't imagine how to think the EPA does anything for them. But then again, these are the same social misfits who wouldn't care so long as it wasn't them, and if it was them nobody would listen anyway because the corporate news wouldn't even report it.

But maybe one day someone will do a study and figure out that an outbreak of sociopathic behavior in the 2010's was due to something released into the water and not discovered by the EPA because they were too busy defending themselves from the people most strongly affected by what was released into the water.

[lOstsOulsrembrd11]

11:51 AM on 09/04/2011

As the really stupid folks taking the pictures start to cough.........I just wonder how this human race. Perhaps it was the government spokesperson who was coughing as they made the announcement (and we all know that those who tell us it's nothing to worry about).

[iam99]

06:49 AM on 09/04/2011

Bromine is a nasty element from the halogen group and like chlorine you do not want to breath any of it. What is a hump/bump doing on a rail line?

[fgtilley]

05:46 AM on 09/04/2011

lethal and in glass jars during transport; seems odd

[Alexander Cardosa]

04:32 AM on 09/04/2011

Glad we have an EPA oh wait which of the candidates wants to do away with it?

[AdjustmentCrisis]

04:04 AM on 09/04/2011

Organic bromines are not very biodegradable; when they are decomposed inorganic bromines will be presented. These can damage the nervous system when high doses are absorbed. Good luck Chelyabinsk.

[fromdnorth]

02:23 AM on 09/04/2011

Unfortunately the Russians do not have an EPA or a President to protect them...

[BCSLAVE]

10:17 PM on 09/03/2011

Oh it was an accident, I thought it was business as usual over Houston. ;)

[aphidavis]

09:26 PM on 09/03/2011

I was just thinking. I'll bet not one good strong cancer cel could survive that.

[AboutFaceNTime]

10:17 PM on 09/03/2011

Medicine and logic. Always a good combo.

[aphidavis]

09:15 PM on 09/03/2011

Looks like a normal day in Bejing China except their cloud is black and getting worse.

[BCSLAVE]

10:17 PM on 09/03/2011

Yeah remember the Olympics there....yikes. And Perry says human's have no impact on the environment and global warming! lol Has he heard that the arctic and Antarctica are melting?

[AboutFaceNTime]

10:17 PM on 09/03/2011

Unless they're holding the olympics. Then they'll break out the giant fans and close the factory for a day or two.

[smeeg]

08:46 PM on 09/03/2011

looks like the making of Night of the Living Dead if you ask me. brains....

[johnfnlennon]

08:41 PM on 09/03/2011

There is a noxious gas emanating from the whitehouse, and it is poisoning the entire country.

[AdjustmentCrisis]

03:54 AM on 09/04/2011

And that's really the best you can do? Meh.

[LMPE]

07:49 PM on 09/03/2011

Who got the idea to transport that stuff?

[AboutFaceNTime]

09:07 PM on 09/03/2011

Probably poster RocknHulas idea. Must've been able to feel the pea under all 10 matresses

[AboutFaceNTime]

10:22 PM on 09/03/2011

He's such a prince.

[Let ItFly10]

07:31 PM on 09/03/2011

it must be all the gas coming out of palins mouth,(oops) i mean as s