Chlorine gas leak kills 3 gorillas at Texas zoo

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Clorine gas leaked from a storage container and filled a gorilla habitat at a zoo Sunday, killing three animals.

The gas also sickened the nine other gorillas and two staff members who tried to free the animals. The zookeepers were treated at a hospital and released.

Staff at the Gladys Porter Zoo were treating the western lowland gorillas, including a young male in serious condition.

Firefighters arrived at 4 a.m. and found three gorillas unconscious and others suffering from chlorine inhalation. They provided oxygen to the animals, said Cesar Garcia, an EMS supervisor.

Authorities suspect a space heater caused a fire that melted the plastic chlorine container.