Thailand’s government is on high alert following a sulphuric acid spill in the Mekong River on the Lao border. The contamination, which took place in Laos’s Luang Prabang town, occurred when a lorry carrying over 30 tonnes of the acid toppled over, causing the hazardous substance to leak into the Nam Khan River, which flows into the Mekong.

 

Residents in seven provinces along the Mekong River, including Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani, have been instructed to vigilantly monitor the water quality. The Office of the National Water Resources predicts that the chemical will flow past Loei’s Chiang Khan district between April 8 and April 10.

 

Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, has assembled an emergency response team from the Department of Science Service. This team has been tasked with monitoring the water quality in the aforementioned provinces and assessing potential environmental impacts.

“Sulphuric acid is a corrosive substance, harmful to the skin, eyes, teeth, and lungs. Severe exposure can lead to blindness and even death,” warned Dr Rungruang Kitphati, director-general of the department. He added that measures are being taken to mitigate the impact. Thai authorities have liaised with Lao officials to release water from the Xayaburi dam in Laos to dilute the chemicals and lessen the effects downstream in Thailand.

Health officials are currently informing residents in the seven provinces on ways to protect themselves from the chemicals. If any contact with the contaminated water occurs, immediate medical attention is advised.

 

The Provincial Waterworks Authority’s Nakhon Phanom office, led by director Paitoon Suthamma, confirmed that the water in the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom remains unaffected by the contamination. “The production of water supply [from the Mekong River] has not been affected. The quality of water still meets safety standards”, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The office will persistently monitor the water quality and keep residents updated on the situation. However, as the accident site is distant from Nakhon Phanom, precautionary measures are in place to prevent any unforeseen emergencies.

 

by Mitch Connor

Picture courtesy of Pattanapong Sripiachai

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-08

 

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I hope the jerk driving the lorry gets some prison time. Probably overloaded and tried to turn too quickly. The momentum of sloshing liquid can overturn a vehicle carrying it. That's why tanker drivers are considered more skilled. 

27 minutes ago, RobU said:

I hope the jerk driving the lorry gets some prison time. Probably overloaded and tried to turn too quickly. The momentum of sloshing liquid can overturn a vehicle carrying it. That's why tanker drivers are considered more skilled. 

Or not as in this case

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Health officials are currently informing residents in the seven provinces on ways to protect themselves from the chemicals.

Stay away from the river seems the best advice.

39 minutes ago, RobU said:

I hope the jerk driving the lorry gets some prison time. Probably overloaded and tried to turn too quickly. The momentum of sloshing liquid can overturn a vehicle carrying it. That's why tanker drivers are considered more skilled. 

That's probably true if they have been trained!

 

Having taken the HGV license in Thailand there was not much training I imagine there is even less in Laos,

Funny part of our course when a thai traffic officer came into give a talk, the two points I got from this was he described himself as a referee of the roads, and dont run away if you crash your truck!

 

After seeing the poor fishermen trying to make a living out of the mekong last week the thai government should really get cracking and testing the water but this is Thailand so no hurry or just cover it up

Add this to the polluted PM2.5 air & we have a real paradise developing  🙄

6 hours ago, cowellandrew said:

That's probably true if they have been trained!

 

Having taken the HGV license in Thailand there was not much training I imagine there is even less in Laos,

Funny part of our course when a thai traffic officer came into give a talk, the two points I got from this was he described himself as a referee of the roads, and dont run away if you crash your truck!

 

Very scary