Steel mill sludge reservoir burst in Thai Nguyen

Dozens of households in Nam Hoa commune, Thai Nguyen province were affected after the mud reservoir of the Iron and Steel Factory of Thai Nguyen Ferrous Metallurgy Joint Stock Company burst.

Current status of the incident.

On the morning of October 13, Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Hoa commune, Thai Nguyen province, confirmed that an incident of spillage and rupture of the mud reservoir of the Iron and Steel Factory had just occurred in the area.

The mud reservoir of the Iron and Steel Factory (capacity 100,000 tons/year, investor is Thai Nguyen Ferrous Metallurgy Joint Stock Company) in Nam Hoa commune has had its embankment broken.

The reservoir is located on a hillside. After the incident, a large amount of thick mud flowed down to the downstream area, covering farmland, fish ponds and some residential areas.

Mud overflowed into people's production areas.

Local residents said the incident occurred on the morning of October 7. Mud from the reservoir flowed down to Goc Thi and Ao Sen hamlets, flooding roads, gardens and fish ponds of dozens of households. Preliminarily, more than 30 households were affected by the incident, mainly causing damage to property, crops and cultivated areas. Some areas are still deeply submerged in thick mud, emitting a pungent, strong smell, causing environmental and health concerns.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Son, the initial cause was determined to be prolonged heavy rain leading to flooding, causing the reservoir embankment to break.

"Immediately after the incident, we directed the local authorities to coordinate with the village and the factory operator to take mud samples for independent testing. In case of chemical influence, we will report to superiors for handling. If not, we will assign the investor, Black Metallurgy Joint Stock Company, to fix the problem for the people."

Mud overflowed into people's crop and garden areas.

He also emphasized that determining whether chemicals were present in the spilled sludge or not requires testing results from an independent unit. Local authorities are currently not qualified to draw conclusions on this issue themselves.

Nam Hoa Commune authorities held a meeting with the people to clearly inform about the incident and coordinate with Thai Nguyen Black Metallurgy Joint Stock Company to handle the consequences.

The company has proceeded to fill in the broken area, reinforce the embankment, mobilize machinery and human resources to clear mud and soil in the downstream area, count the damage and deploy measures to support affected people.

PV (synthesis)

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/vo-ho-chua-bun-nha-may-luyen-gang-thep-o-thai-nguyen-523431.html