Chemical spill to blame for recent fish deaths in Vietnam’s Central Highlands

TUOI TRE NEWS

The Dak Dao stream in Nhan Co Commune, R’Lap District, Dak Nong Province, which was contaminated by chemicals from a spillage at the nearby Nhan Co Alumina Plant at 8:14 am July 23, 2016
Tuoi Tre

- Le suintement des déchets de l'usine alumine Nhan Co, Dak Nong (une province dans les hauts plateaux du Centre de Vietnam), l'usine investie des fonds par le groupe chinois Chalieco - (l'auteur)

Chemical spill caused by machine failure at an alumina manufacturing facility in Vietnam’s Central Highlands was responsible for recent fish deaths and skin conditions of locals, authorities said on Thursday.

Vice Chairman of Dak Nong Province Truong Thanh Tung said officials had pinpointed the cause of previously reported fish deaths and skin conditions of local residents who had been exposed to the water of a stream in the area.

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According to Tung, the cases were linked to a chemical spillage that had stemmed from an alumina plant in Nhan Co Commune, Dak R’Lap District in the province, contaminating a nearby stream where the fish deaths were reported.

The failure at 8:14 am last Saturday of an alkaline pump in one of the chemical tanks at Nhan Co Alumina Plant, which was built in 2010 by Chinese contractor Chalieco, resulted in chemicals being spilt and absorbed into the ground, Tung said.

The spilt chemicals made their way into a nearby stream, from which they continued flowing downstream to residential areas, causing skin conditions in locals while killing small aquatic animals on their way.

Dozens of residents along the Dak Dao stream had burn-like blisters and rashes on their skin after contact with the stream water, many of whom had had to be admitted to hospital.

The pumping system had been locked at 8:18 am the same morning to prevent further spillage, and the incident had been shortly reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which had dispatched an emergency expert team to the area for inspection, Tung said.

The team had taken water samples along six kilometers of the contaminated stream, according to Tung.

The incident led to 9.58 cubic meters of chemicals being leaked to the environment, a portion of the alkaline being absorbed into the ground in an area of 600 square meters around the alumina plant, while the rest followed the sewage pipe into the Dak Dao stream, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment said in its report.

The department said Dak Nong Aluminum Company (DNAC), which is responsible for the alumina plant, had mobilized equipment to collect and treat the spilt chemicals.

DNAC said it had worked with Chinese contractor Chalieco to demand a thorough revision to the design, equipment, and construction of the plant, as well as a detailed evaluation report on the incident to prevent similar mishaps from recurring.

“We have demanded that the investor of the plant install surveillance cameras at sensitive sections of the factory to timely detect and respond to emergency situations,” Vice Chairman Tung said.

Updated : 07/29/2016
Source: TUOI TRE NEWS