Toxic spill in the Western Access: the expertise continues while waiting for the removal of the truck

staff of argentina army continues to work at kilometer 26 of the western access, near the province of Buenos Aires, carrying out tests on the truck which, yesterday afternoon, carried out an impressive flee of an agrochemical. Following this incident, four firefighters were hospitalized but are out of danger, while about fifteen adults and five children had medical consultations in the last hours due to respiratory, visual and throat problems.

Sebastien MoreiraArmy major and member of the Nuclear Bacteriological Chemical Engineer Company and the 601 Emergency Support Company, explained in a dialogue with the radio Miter that his team is working to “mitigate chemical damage”.

For its part Fabien GarciaDirector of Civil Defense of the province of Buenos Aires, assured today that the incident occurred because the substance transported – it would be an agrochemical known as Cletodim– “was in the middle of a chemical reaction.”

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“The truck was driving with gas fumes and was stopped by Autopistas del Oeste personnel. There they found that the container it was carrying had a high temperature, greater than 150 degrees“, specified García, during an interview for Delta FM 90.3.

Regarding those affected by the toxic cloud, García confirmed that four firefighters had to be hospitalized, although they were out of danger. “The first firefighters to arrive tried to cool the container. They had an assignment and had to be admitted to Posadas Hospital. They are out of danger but their airways have been affected and they have suffered from eye irritation,” the official explained. Provincial security sources confirmed today GlobeLiveMedia who would receive a medical discharge within the next few hours.

In addition, García said that about fifteen adults and five other children had medical consultations for breathing difficulties. “According to information from the Civil Defense of Ituzaingó, we have the data that approximately 14 adults and between 3 and 5 children consulted for respiratory, eye and throat problems,” he said.

While waiting for the truck to be removed, García stressed, “The most important thing to tell people is to stay away from the area unless you have to.”

According to police sources in the province of Buenos Aires, the toxic substance spilled on the highway could be clethodim, a powerful fertilizer.

For their part, sources from the National Roads Administration and the Buenos Aires police said that the vehicle in question was carrying a agrochemical class 3, flammable and toxicalthough so far it is not known exactly what it was specifically, so the protocol for this type of situation was immediately activated.

In the middle of the investigation, the municipality of Ituzaingó issued a statement in which it recommended to the inhabitants of the area near the accident that “in the next few hours they do not circulate on the public road, stay inside their houses, close the doors and windows.

“In case of presentation respiratory distress or any symptom consistent with intoxicationgo immediately to the Posadas Hospital or the Bicentennial Hospital,” local authorities recommended.

Also, the staff of Ecological Police of San Martín arrived on the scene and began spreading neutralizing powder throughout the area, which are 50 kilo bags with material that is rumored to absorb hazardous substances.

At the same time, a judicial investigation was opened which was left in the hands of the prosecutor of the decentralized UFI 1 of Ituzaingó, Roberto Tavolarowho ordered the opening of a procedure for “unlawful investigation”, until it is possible to determine what specific substance the truck was transporting and the reasons for the spill.

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