UNMIK/PR/342
MITROVICA - A leak in a sulphuric acid tank at the Trepca industrial facility in South Mitrovica Tuesday caused a full scale emergency alert in the area.
UNMIK fire brigade units combined with KFOR units and engineers from the ITT consortium rushed to the scene to combat the leak in the tank which contained 600 cubic metres of acid (approximately 1000 tonnes). Up to 500 litres of acid poured out of the tanks per minute. Earth moving equipment was brought in to channel the flow of acid into a holding basin so that it could be neutralised by adding lime and gypsum.
Trucks were sent to the Trepca lead smelter in northern Mitrovica to ferry lime to the south while engineers worked on ways of reducing the flow from the acid tank, apparently caused by a ruptured pipe near the inlet valve at the base of the structure.
It was estimated that, unless the flow could be halted, it could take up to four days to drain the tank.
Security forces cordoned off the area and initially closed roads leading to Mitrovica - which pass by the industrial park where the acid leak occurred. After ascertaining there was no danger from fumes, the roads were reopened after about three hours. Engineers reported later, however, that some acid had found its way into the Sitnica River near the Trepca facility where the PH level had risen to two (PH2) and people were advised not to enter the river near the plant.
PH levels in the Ibar River further downstream from the Trepca complex were reported to be normal.
Ironically, the Department of Civil Security and Emergency Planning had scheduled an emergency exercise Wednesday at the very site of today's accident. The exercise has now been cancelled.