After 14 hours, firefighters continue cooling tanks after a styrene leak in the Industrial District of Manaus

Firefighters continue to carry out the recovery work at the site Jucélio Paiva/Rede Amazônica More than 14 hours after the start of the styrene leak at a factory in the Industrial District, in the South Zone of Manaus, teams from the Amazonas Military Fire Department (CBMAM) continue to work on cooling the tanks this Thursday morning (16). The procedure is carried out to avoid increasing the temperature of the chemical and reduce the risk of new vapor releases. The incident occurred around 5:20 pm on Wednesday (15), in one of Innova's styrene monomer storage tanks. According to the company, the product suffered an abnormal increase in temperature, which caused vapors to be released through the equipment's safety devices. According to the Fire Department, the tank's safety system was activated to prevent an explosion. Although the leak occurred in only one of the structures, the teams are cooling the unit's three tanks as a preventive measure. Since then, soldiers from the Biosafety and Dangerous Products Group have been working on site to control the temperature of the reservoirs and prevent new incidents. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp Videos recorded by workers shortly after the leak began and circulating on social media show the seriousness of the situation. In the images, it is possible to see a dense cloud of white smoke coming out of the tank area and quickly spreading across the company's yard. The intensity of the steam frightened employees at the site and in neighboring factories. (see below). Videos show the moment of a styrene monomer leak in Manaus According to an investigation by Rede Amazônica, the strong odor of the chemical was still noticeable in the region on Thursday morning. Workers arriving for work were being released by some companies close to the site. In a note, the Superintendency of the Manaus Free Zone (Suframa) informed that it is monitoring the case and requested detailed information on the measures adopted by the company to contain the occurrence, in addition to the possible impacts on the regularity of the industrial project and the use of the lot. The body also expressed solidarity with the workers and other people affected by the incident and highlighted that the investigation of the causes and health, environmental and health impacts on workers is the responsibility of the competent bodies. g1 contacted the Industry Center of the State of Amazonas (Cieam) to find out if there was guidance for surrounding companies on the release of employees after the incident, but did not receive a response until the last update of this report. What is styrene? ? Styrene monomer is a substance used in the manufacture of plastics, rubbers and other industrial products. Derived from petroleum and natural gas, it is liquid at room temperature, but can evaporate quickly when heated. The head of the Chemistry Department at the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam), Karime Bentes, explained to g1 that styrene evaporates easily when heated. "It has a strong, sweet odor. Exposure to styrene gas can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and fatigue. In high concentrations, it can lead to nausea and respiratory problems. It is recommended to use the P2 mask, also known as N95." Evacuation and emergency operation The Fire Department reported that it was called at 5:36 pm on Wednesday. Because of the chemical risk, the emergency plan was put into practice and the area was isolated with support from the Amazonas Military Police (PM-AM). The factory where the incident occurred and surrounding companies were evacuated as a safety measure. Sections of Avenida Buriti were also closed to facilitate access for teams In total, around 35 firefighters, ten vehicles and four water cannons were used in the incident. Firefighters from the company also participated in the operation. The company said that the situation was controlled. In a statement, Innova reported that the incident was controlled according to the company's emergency protocols and that all the waste generated was stored for appropriate treatment. informed the company. Innova also declared that there is no risk of shortages for customers and that it remains at the disposal of the authorities to provide clarifications. The State Department of Health of Amazonas (SES-AM) reported that 16 people sought medical care after the incident. dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness.