Richards Bay blaze: Factories need to be better equipped for disasters, warns expert
A local environmentalist has emphasised the need for factories to have a
well-equipped plan to deal with large-scale emergencies and disasters.
Desmond D'sa has been commenting on the massive fire that tore through a woodchip mill in Richards Bay over the weekend.
The blaze broke out at exporter NCT Forestry on Saturday.
On Monday, uMhlathuze Fire used planes to try to quell the flames with some 2 0000 litres worth of water bombs.
Evacuations and school closures were ordered as precautionary measures.
D'sa says Richards Bay faced challenges in putting out the fire.
"That's because the groups out there are very small or they don't know what to do. We opened up an office last year and since then we've been doing air sampling around the entire area.
READ: Richards Bay factory fire expected to burn for days
"We're finding high levels of water contaminated with pollution and also people are putting nasty chemicals. Some of the chemicals coming out of companies like this because woodchips are also highly intoxicated."
Councillor Henning de Wet says there are contingency plans in place.
"They are prepping the wood chip stockpiles. They are prepping those for a case where they might alight so there's a huge effort from the ground and the sky to wet them. The city is in continuous discussions and meetings with all the industries in the area especially, those affected and are at high risk."
