VietNamNet Bridge – A waste pond connected to a DAP fertiliser factory in the northern province was compromised late last week and over 45,000cu.m of mud and untreated chemical-filled wastewater spilled over into nearby neighbourhoods following torrential rain.

Lime was spread onto the soil and river to neutralise the acidity in spilled waste waster from a fertiliser factory in Lao Cai Province.

Authorities in the northern province are still working to address the environmental fallout of the serious incident.

Le Ngoc Hung, vice chairman of Lao Cai Province People’s Committee, said on Sunday that at the moment, the province had successfully contained the incident and stopped the spill spreading, during his working session with representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the State-run Viet Nam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), investor of the fertiliser factory in question, located at Tang Loong Industrial Park in Bao Thang District.

By Sunday noon, emergency forces had remedied the contamination, neutralising the acidity in the spilled wastewater (pH returned back to the normal level of 7).

Lao Cai has also asked the fertiliser factory to suspend operations until the consequences are cleared up.

Lao Cai authorities have also quickly evacuated the 33 affected households at the foothill of the waste pond to safer grounds.

Vice Chairman Hung said in the long term, the province would need to relocate households living in the vicinity of the waste pond far from the site.

Locals were told not to use water fetched from the rivers in the affected area (Phu Nhuan, Suoi Trat, Ma Ngan and Hoai).

Households in Bao Thang District affected by the waste pond’s spillover in Lao Cai Province. — VNA/VNS Photos

Yen Bai Province, lying to the south of Lao Cai and downstream of the Hong (Red) River, was also notified of the incident and asked for their co-operation in monitoring the quality of the river water, in order to provide a timely response in case of emergencies.

Nguyen Phu Cuong, Vinachem chairman, said the group would ask the fertiliser company to pay compensation to the 33 affected households as well as cover the expenses to relocate 10 households alongside nearby rivers.

Cuong said the group is also looking at ways to reinforce the embankments of the waste pond.

“Only when the safety standards are ensured, will we resume our operations,” Cuong said.

Right after the incident, the fertiliser factory immediately dumped several tonnes of lime into the rivers and onto the river banks to neutralise the acidity, and put up warning signs in high-risk areas.

Lao Cai Military Command then mobilised soldiers and militiamen to the scene to help people with clean-up operations.

Police of Bao Thang District mobilised about 50 officers, soldiers, fire trucks and water sprayers to the incident site to maintain traffic, security and order.

Source: VNS