VIENTIANE: The Oudomxay provincial Natural Resources and Environment Department has warned people living in Xay and Nga districts not to bathe in or drink water from the Nga River, after a tanker carrying an unspecified acid overturned and leaked some of its contents near the river on Sunday (June 2).
The department is conducting enquiries and is contact with the owner of the tanker, which will be held responsible for the incident, according to Lao National Radio.
A senior official at the department, Somdyteng Beerchue, said the tanker overturned near the Nga River and there was a high risk that the spilled acid could run into the river and kill fish and other aquatic species, as well as buffalo, while local residents have been advised not to eat or sell any dead fish.
The department has spread lime in the contaminated area to neutralise the acid and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other authorities are assisting with efforts to address the situation, including checking water quality.
Checks of water quality carried out from Sunday to Tuesday have not revealed any contamination.
The department has learned that the tanker did not have proper authorisation from the relevant government bodies and was not considered to be safe for the transport of chemicals.
The company that owns the tanker has admitted responsibility and is working with the department to ensure the river does not become contaminated. - Vientiane Times/ANN
