Authorities said around 1,600 chemicals were stored at a warehouse of India's UPL Ltd in KZN when it was razed during violent looting last week, causing potentially harmful air emissions and a greenish-tinged effluent to seep into a protected lagoon.
A hazardous waste cleanup crew collects dead fish after chemicals entered the water system from a warehouse burnt during days of looting in KZN. File photo.Authorities said on Friday around 1,600 chemicals were stored at a warehouse of India's UPL Ltd in KwaZulu-Natal when it was razed during violent looting last week, causing potentially harmful air emissions and a greenish-tinged effluent to seep into a protected lagoon.
First noticed in the early hours of July 13, the fire was only completely doused by 5pm on Thursday, officials at KwaZulu-Natal's environmental affairs department said, as tonnes of dead fish were collected in the vicinity of Umhlanga lagoon and beach. “We can all confirm the damage is quite considerable and it is going to take time to deal with it completely,” Nowele said, adding that besides marine life, there were also biodiversity and fresh water systems at stake. Several beaches have been closed as a result of the spill.
“The situation is being closely monitored and to date, no cases of acute human toxicity have been reported,” the company said at the time.
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