Chemical hazard warning has been announced in the Bussky district of the Lvov region

Sunday, January 17, 2021

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A Chemical hazard warning has been announced in the Bussky district of the Lvov region. Five out of 15 train tanks carrying liquid yellow phosphorus overturned there at 5. 40 p.m. Monday and caught fire. Several dozen fire brigades worked for four hours to cool the oil tanks by pouring special reagents onto their surface. Besides, fire extinguishing proved difficult because water must not be used to extinguish phosphorous flames, otherwise, it is fraught with poisonous emission. Ten rescuers and two Interior servicemen, who had their respiratory tract affected during fire extinguishing, suffered in the accident. A total of 800 people have been evacuated from the neighboring settlements. Most of the children have been taken away from the hazardous place. Nonetheless, many people stayed on, refusing to abandon their homes. They were recommended to keep all windows shut and keep cattle inside. A state commission dealing with emergencies headed by Ukrainian Vice-premier Alexander Kuzmuk met at the Ozhidov railway station near the crash site to discuss the situation. Residents of a military compound 40 kilometers off the crash site told Tass that a chemical hazard warning was announced in the military garrison. Servicemen wearing gas masks have been taking air samples. A phosphorus spill dries up quickly at high air temperatures, which is very dangerous now. The city of Lvov with a population of 800,000 is 80 kilometers way from the crash site. The Lvov city administration has met to discuss measures for prevention of the spread of contaminating substances. Phosphorous used for production of fertilizers has a lethal effect in a concentration of one-tenth of a gram. Yellow phosphorous affects human bones, brain and might cause liver necrosis.

Bookmark Chemical hazard warning has been announced in the Bussky district of the Lvov region