This tablecloth, as a result of a leak of chemical agent within the petrochemical complex Lavéra, classified as Seveso, a Friday, “virtually disappeared”.
What will happen to the water of”chemical agent” which is discharged into the Mediterranean sea in the night from Wednesday to Thursday ? A leak of chemical agent within the petrochemical complex Lavéra, classified as Seveso, in Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône), has led to a water acid of several hectares in the sea. Friday, this last has “practically disappeared from the surface of the Mediterranean, the maritime prefecture.
What happened?
On the petrochemical complex of the Lavéra in Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône) a leak was detected at 1 hour and 50 minutes “at the level of a storage bin of solution of ferric chloride in the workshop production of the site of Kem One in Lavéra”. This group is the number two european PVC.
A spreading accidentally leak this to the storm sewer system occurs, resulting in a liquid discharge to the cove Auguette”, he adds. This chemical is highly corrosive is used especially for the treatment of wastewater, is then transformed into an acid solution of brown in contact with the sea, forming a water toxic of about six hectares in the Mediterranean, at the level of the handle of Auguette. An investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances of this leak.
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The water is it always visible ?
on Friday morning, the maritime prefecture told The Express that the water was now reduced “to a bare minimum.” “Yesterday it was not more than a hectare to 18 hours, this morning it was almost more visible” explains she.
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The seamen-firemen of Marseilles are always on hand to finalize levies on the remaining part of the water and the results will be known in “the end of the day”.
This chemical is highly corrosive is used especially for the treatment of wastewater, is then transformed into an acid solution of brown in contact with the sea, forming a water toxic of about six hectares in the Mediterranean, at the level of the handle of Auguette.
Is it dangerous ?
Requested, the maritime prefecture was not able to tell if the chemicals could be hazardous to individuals or the environment. Saying “waiting for results”.
“The chloride of iron is highly corrosive and is a hazard for swimmers, fish, shellfish and marine mammals,” explains his side to the Parisian the environmentalist association “Robin des bois”.
In the aftermath, on Thursday, the maritime prefect had issued an order banning boating, sea fishing, scuba diving and swimming in the Southern part of the gulf of Fos. “This order will certainly not be extended after 00: 00”, announced on Friday the prefecture.
What are the responsibilities ?
For his part, the mayor of Martigues Gaby Charroux believed that this leak raises “a number of issues and inadequacies”. “More than intentions, it is urgent to put in the heart of the workings of the principle of precaution and prevention”, he stressed in a press release, because “design industrialization adapted to a territory requires measures of prevention and protection modern”.
The petrochemical plant in Lavéra is part of one of the largest industrial complexes in Europe, around the Etang de Berre, which generates a pollution generating regularly the fears of the inhabitants of the surrounding area. In October 2019, some of them had challenged in court the four industrial chemist, Kem One, ArcelorMittal, Esso and the oil terminal of Fos-sur-Mer, for “trouble in the neighbourhood”.
“Kem One” Martigues-Lavéra has been the subject of four arrested and desist from 2016,” says the association Robin des Bois. “The last date of December 26, 2019, would put notice to the operator to enhance the security of its storage of chlorine at the latest by 31 march 2020,” details-she said, adding : “This accident nine months after Lubrizol delivers the taste of the day, the difficult cohabitation between the plants, Seveso high threshold, and other human activities.”
“The services of the department are on-site to establish the circumstances of this leak and to analyze its consequences on the natural environment. The damages that will be established will be repaired by the responsible”, stated Thursday evening in a tweet, the minister of the Transition écologiqueBarbara Pompili.
