Benzene from crashed tanks escaped into groundwater, revealed probe
The disaster of this type is unprecedented. « We face an accident of this type and such a scope for the first time in the Czech Republic, » said CEI director Petr Bejček.
According to the inspection, the most endangered lake number 6, which already shows increased benzene content. It is still captured at the edge of the tank using sorption snakes installed by firefighters. « The discharge from the tank has been monitored since the beginning of the accident and the benzene values are currently low and below the limits of pollution, » said Loužecká.
The initiation of the remediation of the soil at the site of the accident depends on the final removal of tanks and railway superstructure. « All stakeholders now have to mobilize and do their best to alleviate the consequences of this disaster, which is absolutely unprecedented, » said Petr Bejček.
Since the beginning of the accident, the Morava River Basin has also been monitored by the Bečva River. According to CEO David Fin, the results of analyzes of benzene concentrations in five supply profiles on the Bečva River are still significantly below the limit value for surface water.
Remediation only after the destruction of the accident
The initiation of the remediation of the soil at the site of the accident depends on the final removal of tanks and railway superstructure. « All stakeholders now have to mobilize and do their best to alleviate the consequences of this disaster, which is absolutely unprecedented, » said Petr Bejček.
Since the beginning of the accident, the Morava River Basin has also been monitored by the Bečva River. According to CEO David Fin, the results of analyzes of benzene concentrations in five supply profiles on the Bečva River are still significantly below the limit value for surface water.
CEI addressed health professionals asking for monitoring of drinking water in the surrounding wells. Hygienists should perform samples and analysis in the coming days.
Firefighters have pumped benzene from the last two tanks in Hustopeče, and the remaining 12 damaged tanks await them. They will use an automobile crane.
It was important to build a probes for monitoring the state of groundwater. « The special formation from Hlučín has been excavated with the help of a belt excavator 12 probes in the area between the track and the lake, and will serve for monitoring possible contaminations of groundwater, » said regional firefighters spokeswoman Lucie Balážová.
“There are two tanks in Hustopeče, one of which is already open. On Tuesday, three traction lines were cut off, and today will continue. The warming of the chemicals and the acceleration of ventilation of tanks is also being solved, ”said the spokesman of the railway firefighters Martin Kavka.
Regional firefighters in the field will again support their Cobra Team. « A special device for cutting with a water jet will drill more tanks to ventilate, » Balážová said.
The remote -controlled Cobra device spray water using water beam and creates a very fine water fog that has the ability to cool the fire space and extinguish fire.
“The CCS Cobra system and its patented cold cutting method allows cutting in a dangerous environment. The cutting does not increase the temperature and it is the safest known method of cutting for use in an explosive environment, ”said Balážová.
According to her, Cobra can be used, for example, for cutting oil tanks, gas pipes, aircraft, naval tankers and the like.
“Firefighters intervene in overpressure fringes, their work in a dangerous zone monitor the drones and the fire protection of the tank titanium is prepared. Cleaning is provided by decontamination habitat. We continue to drain benzene from two other tanks, ”she added.
The rescue unit from Hlučín completed 12 deep probes at a depth of approximately two meters to the groundwater.
Experts through them will assess the possible contamination of groundwater with benzene, which escaped in the fire. Inspectors from the Czech Environmental Inspectorate will take control samples on the spot.
TankerThe train, which derailed on Friday, transported more than 1,000 tons of toxic benzene in 17 tanks, 15 of them burned after derailment. No one was injured, the causes of the fire are still being investigated. The damage to the environment was estimated at one hundred million crowns, another 125 million crowns are damage to infrastructure and train. The DEZA chemist, from which the benzene train took the tank train to customers, estimated the damage to several tens of millions of crowns. |
« If the toxic substance is confirmed at the site, it will start to drain and redeem immediately, » said a judicial expert and hydrogeologist Milan Gersl, who is in charge of the remediation measures.
According to him, it is necessary to work quickly, the substance must not go further into geological structures, where there is no way to decompose and remain here for decades.
Firefighters will also install additional walls in the adjacent pond on Wednesday. “Regular air and surface water detection is underway. Preventive measures still apply to people do not. The results remain negative, ”added Balážová.
