16 police officers were injured in a chemical accident at a factory site in Mannheim. LPG was leaked from a container of the BASF group on Tuesday. A chemical reaction took place, releasing toxic fumes.
“The mission continues, but the situation is currently stable,” a spokesman said Wednesday morning. The container was water cooled overnight to reduce escaping vapors. Nearly 200 barrels filled with hydrosulfite were stored in it. This is an aid for the textile industry that is used, for example, in bleaching.
“According to the current state of knowledge, the product properties could cause the product to self-decompose, releasing sulfur dioxide and other sulfur salts,” said a spokeswoman for the city of Mannheim. 16 police officers were injured in the chemical accident. Two of them initially had to be treated in hospital. It was not immediately clear how the accident could have happened.
Cause of leak unclear
The same applies to the cause of the leak in the container, a spokeswoman for the fire brigade reported. Sometimes a 150 meter high cloud could be seen above the Mühlauhafen in Mannheim. Almost 24 hours after the incident, the large-scale operation with more than 100 emergency services was still in full swing.
Individual streets closed
Experts agreed on the measures to be taken. The company fire brigade of the chemical company BASF advises the police on how to secure the container. Air measurements were taken at various places in the city on Wednesday night. “So far, the measurements have not revealed any elevated values,” the city said. By mid-morning, almost all road closures had been lifted, except for the immediate location.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
