Al-Mishraq is a state run sulfur plant near Mosul, Iraq. In June 2003, it was the site of the largest man-made release of sulfur dioxide ever recorded when a fire (thought to have been deliberately started) gained control and burned for almost a month. At its height, the fire was putting 21,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide a day into the atmosphere. The pollution at Mosul city which is about 45 km from Mishraq reached a catastrophic level. For over 48 hours, one could see sulfur dioxide white smoke in the air. Many people were taken into hospitals and most vegetation was killed.