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Chlorine leak leaves five injured at Apple's North Carolina data center

Five people are receiving medical treatment after being exposed to a chlorine leak at Apple's data center in Maiden, North Carolina on Monday, reports say.

Catawba Fire and Rescue dispatchers sent out multiple first responder units, including a hazmat team, to Apple's facility after receiving reports of a chlorine leak at around 2:30 p.m. EDT, reports The Charlotte Observer.

The cause and extent of the leak is unknown as authorities have yet to release additional information regarding the matter.

It is also unclear if those injured suffered from chlorine inhalation or physical exposure to a non-gaseous form of the chemical. Chlorine has a variety of industrial applications and was perhaps used in Apple's on-site cooling system to inhibit growth of fouling microorganisms.

Today's news comes less than one week after a large blaze was reported at Apple's Mesa, Ariz. facility. The fire was confined to the building's roof where it destroyed a number of solar panels.