10 people being assessed after ammonia leak in Timaru

Ten people are being assessed by paramedics following an ammonia leak in Timaru this evening.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand services were called to Meadows Rd in Washdyke around 9.35pm following a report of an ammonia leak.

Fire services responded with five appliances, including a specialist command unit and a hazardous substances unit, a Fire and Emergency spokesperson told 1News.

"We are now working on reducing the pressure in tanks and identifying the source.

"Following this, we will clean up the affected area, and then our crews and appliances will go through a stringent decontamination process."

A St John spokesperson told 1News one ambulance is at the scene while another is en route.

"We are currently assessing 10 patients on the scene."