Factory gas leak hospitalises 24, sparks evacuation

A carbon monoxide leak at a pork processing plant in Melbourne has caused 24 people to be hospitalised after workers were exposed to dangerously high levels of the potentially fatal gas.

Fire Rescue Victoria said it responded to the leak at the plant in Derrimut, in Melbourne's west, on Monday afternoon, arriving to find 60 people evacuated and some suffering from carbon monoxide exposure.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said 24 people were taken to hospital in a stable condition after the agency in an earlier statement said 14 people were hospitalised.

Fire Rescue Victoria said "firefighters donned breathing apparatus and entered the factory with gas detectors to take readings and assess the situation" on arrival at the scene.

It said crews found inside the factory that "the carbon monoxide readings inside the building were still dangerously high."

The building was ventilated until gas levels dropped to a safe rating, with the incident declared under control before 2pm local time, it said.