Monday, November 7, 2016 11:15 am

FINLAND (YLE News) -- Five people were hospitalized after a hydrogen sulfide gas leak at a pulp mill in Kemi, north-west Finland on Monday morning. The plant, owned by Finnish-Swedish forest products giant Stora Enso, was evacuated and operations suspended for several hours.

Rescue officials say the factory was ventilated to remove the gas from interior areas, and that the leak did not pose a threat to local residents.

Hydrogen sulphide, which has a strong odor of rotten eggs, is colorless, toxic, corrosive, flammable and explosive.

Plant director Juha Mäkimattila told Yle the gas leak occurred during repairs on the odorous gas collection system. The Veitsiluoto Mill is located some seven kilometers south of central Kemi, and 100 km north of Oulu. There was a powerful odorous gas explosion at the same facility in late June, but no-one was injured.

The mill was up and running again by 4.30 pm, and all of the employees that were treated in hospital had returned to work.

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Join Jim Thompson on the 2nd Annual Papermakers Mission Trip to Guatemala, 22 - 29 July 17. Build houses, talk about the pulp and paper industry. For more information, email jthompson@taii.com with "Guatemala" in the subject line.