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Hundreds of motorists injured from chemical spill in West Java
Around 20 tonnes of sodium hydroxide were spilled onto a road in West Bandung regency, West Java, while being transported from Karawang to Bandung, resulting in at least 100 injured motorists and hundreds of damaged vehicles.
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An illustration of a warning sign on chemical spill. (Shutterstock/Kim Britten)
A chemical spill from a transport truck in West Bandung regency, West Java has injured at least 100 people and damaged hundreds of vehicles, prompting a police investigation and an apology from the supplier, which pledged to take responsibility for the incident.
The spill, which was recorded in footage that went viral on social media, took place on Tuesday morning. A tanker truck was reportedly transporting sodium hydroxide or caustic soda from Karawang to a warehouse owned by chemical supplier CV Yasindo Multi Pratama in the provincial capital of Bandung. The warehouse owner also owned the truck carrying the chemical.
The truck broke down and spilled the chemical onto the main road connecting the Cikalongwetan and Padalarang districts in West Bandung. Local media reported that around 20 tonnes of the chemical was spilled along 8 kilometers of the road.
Some videos showed that the caustic soda was flowing along the road into the gutter.
The chemical solution on the road splashed onto motorists, damaging at least 150 motorbikes and cars passing through Jl. Cikalongwetan and injuring hundreds of riders. Data from the police showed that more than 100 people suffered from light injuries, while at least four others were heavily injured because of contact with the chemical.
“Some were splashed by the chemical, but there were other riders who slipped and fell,” said Cimahi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tri Suhartanto on Thursday, as quoted by tempo.co.
