"Gas leaked out from a carbon dioxide tube on a vessel during annual tests," Coskun Duygun, the DG of Tuzla Dockyard, told reporters.

Duygun said the gas leakage poisoned six people, including a U.S. citizen named John Hop.

"Five Turks were discharged from hospital after their treatment, while Hop is receiving oxygen treatment at a hospital," he told.

Duygun said there was no blast or fire in the vessel. Earlier, sources said a blast occurred in the engine room of a ship at the dockyard.

The incident occurred on U.S.-flagged "Liberte Star" vessel of 220 meters in length and 35,944 gross tons in weight.

Murat Parlak, Ibrahim Akdag, Umit Seren, Huseyin Odabas and Mehmet Eke were the other workers who were wounded.


AA