Fire at Indonesian pesticide warehouse contaminates rivers and water supplies
A fire at a pesticide warehouse in Tangerang City, Indonesia, has triggered toxic runoff into the Jalantreng and Cisadane rivers, causing mass fish die-off and disrupting clean water supplies.
The fire broke out at a pesticide warehouse owned by PT Biotek Saranatama in Tekno Park, Tangerang, west of Jakarta, at around 4.30am on Monday 9 February. The facility was storing approximately 20 tonnes of liquid and powdered pesticides at the time of the incident, according to an article from The Jakarta Post.
Despite 15 fire engines and 75 firefighters being deployed to extinguish the blaze, it was only brought under control after seven hours as the chemical substances inside the warehouse made it difficult to contain.
Although no casualties were reported, authorities said liquid pesticides that spilled during the fire, along with water used to extinguish the flames, flowed into nearby drainage channels that connect directly to the the Jalantreng and Cisadane rivers.
Residents soon reported a pungent odour coming from the river, as well as an oily sheen and white foam on the water’s surface. Thousands of fish were found dead and floating, with some residents collecting and consuming the fish. The contamination also forced several regional water utilities that draw raw water from the Cisadane river to suspend operations temporarily, disrupting supplies to thousands of customers.
Water sample testing underway
Head of the South Tangerang Communication and Information Agency, Tubagus Asep Nurdin, said authorities collected river water samples for laboratory testing to determine the extent of contamination.
"The parameters being examined are quite complex because they involve pesticide chemicals. Obtaining accurate results will take several working days," Asep said on Wednesday.
He urged residents to temporarily refrain from using river water for daily activities until test results confirm it is safe, and urged residents living near the riverbanks to closely monitor their well water for any changes in odour or colour and to promptly report any irregularities to the authorities.
In the meantime, the city administration has begun distributing clean water to residents affected by the incident.
Nitric acid leak two weeks ago
Only two weeks prior, on 31 January, the nearby city of Cilegon saw orange clouds of toxic fumes rise from a chemical storage facility in the city's industrial district.
The clouds, resulting from a nitric acid leak, rendered dozens of residents ill and exposed gaps in industrial safety enforcement, prompting the government to threaten criminal action against the operator.
The facility is owned by chemical tank storage company PT Vopak Terminal Merak, the subsidiary of Netherlands-based multinational Royal Vopak that operates around 80 terminals worldwide.
