Thousands of people evacuated after pesticide storage fire
About 1,500 primary and secondary pupils in the southern province of Tien Giang were evacuated after a fire broke out at a local pesticide storage site on September 19.
The fire broke out at 10.45pm at the Truong Son Company. After receiving the news, firefighters were sent to the scene, but they faced with heavy smoke and noxious fumes from the pesticides. The fire was finally put under control at 5 am.
Three hours later, the fire broke out again. The local authorities had to break the walls to better access the fire.
Tran Thanh Duc, vice chairman of Tien Giang Province arrived at the scene to direct the firefighting. The Department of Health asked hospitals to be ready in case there are gas poisoning patients.
The fire was extinguished in the afternoon.
"It destroyed 800-square-metre storage depot which contained various pesticides and fertilisers. The damage will run into hundreds of millions of VND," said Le Hoang Tien, head of Cai Be District's police force.
The local authorities are collecting polluted samples and investigating the cause of the fire.
The scene of the fire.
Many locals, including old people and pregnant women in the surrounding area, were also evacuated.
The fire broke out at 10.45pm at the Truong Son Company. After receiving the news, firefighters were sent to the scene, but they faced with heavy smoke and noxious fumes from the pesticides. The fire was finally put under control at 5 am.
Three hours later, the fire broke out again. The local authorities had to break the walls to better access the fire.
Thousands of people evacuated because of the fire.
Tran Thanh Duc, vice chairman of Tien Giang Province arrived at the scene to direct the firefighting. The Department of Health asked hospitals to be ready in case there are gas poisoning patients.
The fire was extinguished in the afternoon.
"It destroyed 800-square-metre storage depot which contained various pesticides and fertilisers. The damage will run into hundreds of millions of VND," said Le Hoang Tien, head of Cai Be District's police force.
The local authorities are collecting polluted samples and investigating the cause of the fire.
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