Toxic scare: Yellow smog blankets Buenos Aires after chemical container explosion

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Published time: December 06, 2012 14:36
Edited time: December 06, 2012 22:17

Mass evacuation ordered in Buenos Aires after chemical container explodes (Image from Twitter/@UnivisionNews)

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Ecology, Health, South America

A chemical container has exploded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, blanketing the capital in a huge toxic cloud. Residents are being told to stay inside while a mass evacuation from the area surrounding the blast has been ordered, local media report.

The container filled with pesticide caught on fire after a chemical reaction between its contents and exploded. As the flames were put out, yellow smoke billowed out of it. City officials believe the container may have been transporting garbage.

“The pesticide presents a low level of danger and affects the respiratory tract,” said Sergio Berni, the national Security Secretary, as quoted by C5N television channel.

The incident hit the city's Port Terminal 4 early in the morning. Several buildings in the port and the surrounding area were evacuated, according to Buenos Aires's Civil Defense. Residents in near-by areas were told to stay indoors, close their windows and turn off air conditioning.

By 9:00am local time a strange heavy odor, described as similar to burnt oil or a gas leak, hit the city causing some metro lines and the city’s domestic airport to suspend operations.

A public health and security emergency has been declared by the country’s Security Ministry in the wake of the incident, reports Buenos Aires Herald. The ministry urged the public to call 107 in the event of any intoxication symptoms.

Some residents complain of eye irritation and breathing problems and have to move along the streets covering their faces with masks and handkerchiefs, but officials say "the situation is under control" now.

Image from Twitter/@AlertasTransito

Comments (15)

birchwood (unregistered) 07.12.2012 03:39

nk wrote in #2
lennchma wrote in #1
Possibly false flag event. Since when mercury does explode?
Something like that, and even if it's true.. then "luckily", probably it won't stay up in the air too long, thanks to the heavy weight..

NK & lenchma............ You may want to look up Red Mercury; you may be surprised, as a catalyst or ingredient........ It is indicative of much more in the "pipeline".

Undo

Jul (unregistered) 07.12.2012 02:07

ringo (unregistered) wrote in #14
was it not argentina that refused to pay 1,5 bil. dollars to usa from times of their bankrot? is this bubu??? Argentinian president refused to pay lately...is this an answer? is it just me that see it as an absolute evilness??
It was not to USA, it was to some privat bondholders, part of a 7% wich didn't accepted an agreement neither in 2005 and 2010.
Also, a big part of Argentina's foreing debt is illegal: -there was proved that most part of the money (almost everything) ended in some politicians bank account-it started with the 6th dicatorship (illegal government = illegal debt)-there's, also, privat debt (even of non-argentinians companies)-some delays with bondholders
The negotiations with bondholders in 2005 and 2010 allowed secure date of payment, interest with a minum wich can grow up due to de economical situation of the country, and others if a great part of the illegal debt was deleted.
Now the argentinian government is planning another exchange proposal for them.
(You can serch about: Exchange Bondholder Group, particulary Gramercy Funds Managments LLC)
On the other hand: Argentina paid all it's debt to IMF, is making negotiatons with the Paris Club (since last year, and everything going well), and, also, is paying to the others bondholder on time.

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ringo (unregistered) 06.12.2012 21:59

was it not argentina that refused to pay 1,5 bil. dollars to usa from times of their bankrot? is this bubu??? Argentinian president refused to pay lately...is this an answer? is it just me that see it as an absolute evilness??

Undo

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