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Nabarralde | Nabarra Papers
Toxic
Cloud Over Lantaron
Mila Parot Zubimendi.
On the early evening of July 5, a cast iron pipe at the General
Quimica sheared off from a connecting valve, releasing sulfuric
dioxide fumes from its manufacturing plant in Lantaron, Araba,
on the border with the Spanish province of Burgos. The release
caused panic in nearby towns but no injuries. The director of
General Quimica and the department of Interior of the government
of Baskongadak
downplayed the incident, claiming that harmful levels of released
chemicals did not leave the plant property.
Regional
police closed several roads near the plant through the evening.
Residents were advised to stay in their homes. About 100 people,
mainly students, were evacuated from the Lantaron swimming pools
at 400 metres from the chemical plant, and sheltered in a nearby
factory outside the cloud's path.
The
accident, reported around 7pm, occurred when 10 kilograms of
Thionyl chloride were released to the air forming a cloud of
Sulfur dioxide. Thionyl chloride (SOC12), is a dense, volatile,
toxic liquid. When Thionyl chloride is exposed to the air, it
forms Sulfur dioxide (SO2). Sulfur dioxide is a heavy, colourless,
poisonous gas with a pungent, irritating odour familiar as the
smell of a just-struck match.
The
emergency alert continued until around 10 pm. About 9:30 pm,
the department of Interior of the government of Baskongadak
informed that there was no danger. Government technicians said
that although an investigation by experts was still pending,
there was no risk and that the weather had been favorable given
that it rained after the release. Interior stated that Sulfur
dioxide is toxic only at high concentration. At low concentration
Sulfur dioxide could cause skin irritation, according to the
Interior department.
Rain
Moves Toxic Cloud to Miranda in Burgos
A
couple of hours after the chemical release it rained in Lantaron
and the toxic cloud moved to the city of Miranda del Ebro in
Burgos. The local press reported a panicked exodus along the
Ebro bridge, which connects the old part of the town and the
new, of more than 36,000 people fearing contamination.
Some
residents complained of respiratory problems and headaches after
breathing the fumes. None required medical treatment.
But
people in Miranda del Ebro are not appeased. In 1991 the General
Quimica plant in Lantaron released hazardous chemicals, which
sent a toxic cloud rolling through the town. They also have
been complaining to local authorities for years that the General
Quimica plant dumps waste into the Ebro River. "If we keep going
the way we're going, some day our luck is going to run out,"
a resident said.
Miranda
residents are still in the dark over whether their long-term
health has been affected. They say they live in a "powder flask"
and know very well the names of the local companies and multinationals
with plants in the area and that pose a danger to the environment:
Elf Atochem, Hutchinson, Azucarera, Papelera and Montefibre
in Miranda; and General Quimica, Acideka and CLH in Araba.
The
mayor of Lantaron, Pablo Nieva, minimized the accident and praised
the "excellent institutional coordination." However, he said
he would prefer if the chemical plants move out of Lantaron.
"At least the government should have them checked. General Quimica
is 51-years old."
July
1999
Mila
Parot is a law student and free-lance writer. She's currently
living in Miarritze.
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