The fire at the Lubrizol plant in Rouen, September 26, 2019. -
Robin Letellier / SIPA
To be able to "warn the population quickly in the event of a major event", the Metropolis of Rouen announced on Tuesday the launch of "an alert system by SMS".
"This system comes in addition to sirens and other warning systems already set up by certain municipalities", indicates the Metropolis in a press release.
Other cities in France already have a similar alert system by SMS.
But in the metropolis of Rouen, where a large number of Seveso sites are located, this system is of particular interest.
The siren not efficient enough
The population was particularly marked by the fire in Lubrizol in September 2019. On this occasion, “the existing population warning tools showed their limits (…).
The event reminded everyone of the inadequacy of the warning system for the population by sirens during an industrial accident, ”the press release recalls.
On September 26, 2019, the fire, which had no casualties on a site classified as Seveso high threshold, had caused an immense cloud of black smoke 22 km long.
Nearly 9,505 tonnes of chemicals had burned at this automotive lubricants site and at the neighboring Normandie Logistique site.
“The municipalities of the Rouen Normandy metropolitan area are concerned by technological risks (industrial risks with in particular 24 Seveso sites, and linked to the transport of hazardous materials) and by natural risks (….) But also by meteorological phenomena and episodes of atmospheric pollution ”, the press release reminds us.
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