A barge enters a lock (Illustration) - Pixabay

During the night of Monday to Tuesday, a 120-meter-long barge carrying 2,200 tonnes of vinyl chloride in the gaseous state was damaged when it left the lock at Sablons in Isère. Breakthrough, one of the tanks released gas, flammable and toxic. But in "low quantity" and "below the toxicity threshold," says the prefecture of Isère, adding that there were no injuries elsewhere.

A barge carrying vinyl chloride was damaged on the Rhône. No injuries. A security perimeter has been established to prevent any risk. The leak sealing operations are in progress. Avoid the area so as not to disrupt the work of the emergency services.

- Prefect of Isère (@ Prefet38) February 18, 2020

"A security perimeter has been established to prevent any risk to people or the environment," she continues. Several people were therefore evacuated as a precaution before returning to their homes overnight.

Incident # Barge at #Sablons # Isère on the river # Rhône: a 2nd boat will arrive in a few hours, in order to pump the vinyl chloride currently stored on the damaged barge. Operations are expected to continue until tomorrow day.

- Prefect of Isère (@ Prefet38) February 18, 2020

Interrupted navigation

On the other hand, navigation on the Rhône near the lock is interrupted for an indefinite period. The leak sealing operations are in progress. A second boat should arrive in a few hours in order to pump the vinyl chloride currently stored on the damaged barge. The population is asked to avoid the area so as not to disrupt the work of the emergency services, which should last until Wednesday.

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