A chemical spill at a facility between Kalbarri and Northampton in Western Australia's mid west region has been contained.
Thousands of litres of hydrochloric acid spilled from a tank at BASF's Hutt Lagoon site at Yallabatharra on Tuesday morning, with the operator blaming it on a faulty valve while the Department of Fire and Emergency Services attributed it to a ruptured pipe.
"Any content leaked from the tank has been fully captured by the containment bund," BASF said in a statement.
"Local fire brigades from Kalbarri, Northampton and Geraldton have responded and are in the process of determining the best course of action to transfer the leaked content."
They are expected to remain there for several hours as chemical recovery personnel travel to the site.
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DFES has warned of fumes in the area.
George Grey Drive, which was briefly closed, has reopened but drivers are asked to slow down near the incident.
The Hutt Lagoon site is part of BASF's Nutrition and Health business, were it derives beta-carotene from naturally occurring micro-alga.
The product is used as food and beverage colouring and in dietary supplements.
Production at the site will be suspended until the situation is under control, BASF said.
