- A corrosive chemical agent leak occurred overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in the Lavéra petrochemical complex in Martigues in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
- This highly corrosive chemical, used in particular for the treatment of wastewater, then turned into a brown acidic solution on contact with the sea.
A corrosive chemical agent leak occurred overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in the Lavéra petrochemical complex in Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône), announced the industrialist Kem One, leading to the formation of a slick polluting acid of a few hectares in the Mediterranean.
This leak was detected at 1:50 am "at a ferric chloride solution storage tank in the production workshop of the Kem One site in Lavéra", specifies the industrial group, European number two in PVC. , in a statement released Thursday.
A highly corrosive chemical
"An accidental spreading of this leak towards the storm sewer network occurred, resulting in a liquid discharge towards the Anse d'Auguette", he adds. This highly corrosive chemical, used in particular for the treatment of wastewater, then transformed into a brown acid solution on contact with the sea, forming a toxic sheet of about six hectares in the Mediterranean, at the level of the cove of 'Auguette.
Forty men from the Marseille fire brigade battalion (BMPM) and ten firefighters were sent to the site of the incident, which caused no injuries according to the Kem One group. An investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances of this leak, which has ceased to be fueled.
Order taken by the prefecture
"The chartered support and assistance vessel (BSAA), a pioneer of the national navy, specializing in pollution control, has also been deployed in order to contribute to the operations in progress", specified the maritime prefecture of the Mediterranean in a press release.
In addition, a decree banning boating, sea fishing, scuba diving and swimming in the southern part of the Gulf of Fos, from Ponteau beach to Cape Couronne has been issued by the prefecture.
One of the largest industrial complexes in Europe, around the Etang de Berre
"The services of the @ Ecologie_Gouv ministry are on site to establish the circumstances of this leak and analyze its consequences on the natural environment", declared the Minister of Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili on Twitter, adding that "the damage which (would) be observed (would) be repaired by those responsible ”.
The Lavéra petrochemical site is part of one of the largest industrial complexes in Europe, around the Etang de Berre, which generates pollution that regularly arouses the fears of the inhabitants of the surroundings. In October 2019, some of them had notably sued four industrialists, the chemist Kem One, ArcelorMittal, Esso and the Fos-sur-Mer oil depot, for “disturbing the neighborhood”.
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- Environment
- Marseilles
- Pollution
- Martigues