Aerial image records styrene gas vapors during cooling this Thursday (16) The Public Ministry of Amazonas (MPAM) initiated a procedure to investigate the causes and impacts of the styrene gas leak that occurred on Wednesday (15), in a factory in the Industrial District of Manaus. The investigation seeks to clarify the circumstances of the incident, verify possible damage to the environment and public health and identify those responsible for the case. ? Styrene is a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics and rubbers. The substance can evaporate when heated and form vapors with a strong odor. Exposure can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, as well as symptoms such as headache, dizziness and nausea. The measure was adopted through Notice of Fact No. 01.2026.00005936-8, opened ex officio by the Operational Support Center of the Public Prosecutor's Offices Specialized in the Defense of the Environment, Historical Heritage and Urban Planning (CAO-MAPH-URB). The procedure was initiated following a determination by the Attorney General of Amazonas, Leda Mara Albuquerque. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp According to MPAM, the accident occurred in a petrochemical industry located in the Industrial District, after the leak of styrene gas vapors. The strong odor was felt in different regions of the Amazonian capital, and workers and residents reported symptoms of discomfort after exposure to the product. The initiation of the procedure was formalized in an order signed by prosecutor Carlos Sérgio Edwards de Freitas. The objective is to gather information about the accident, identify its causes, evaluate the environmental and health impacts and determine possible liability for the facts. After opening the investigation, the case was forwarded to the 49th Public Prosecutor's Office Specializing in the Protection and Defense of the Environment and Historical Heritage (Prodemaph), responsible for conducting the investigations. Prosecutor Ana Cláudia Abboud Daou received the files this Thursday (16) and will continue the investigations. Among the first measures planned are the sending of letters to the bodies and institutions involved in the incident to gather information that can support the investigation. Firefighters continue working at the site More than 24 hours after the start of the styrene leak, teams from the Amazonas Military Fire Department (CBMAM) continue working to cool the tanks this Thursday. According to firefighters, there is still a release of chemical vapors, at a lower intensity than that recorded on Wednesday (15), during the process of controlling the temperature of the tanks. According to the State Department of Health of Amazonas (SES-AM), 149 consultations were carried out in the public health network related to the incident until 5pm on Thursday. Of this total, 140 patients were discharged and nine remain hospitalized. Those treated had symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea and fainting. There is no information about the health status of hospitalized patients. The incident occurred around 5:20 pm on Wednesday (15), in one of Innova's three styrene monomer 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. Videos recorded by workers shortly after the leak began and circulating on social media showed 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 Gas leak in Manaus causes schools, PAC and companies in the Industrial District to suspend activities Manaus goes into a state of alert after a styrene gas leak in the Industrial District, says mayor Gas leak is recorded in a company in the Industrial District in Manaus Isolated area and investigation At a press conference this Thursday, the general commander of the Fire Department, Colonel Muniz, reported that the area isolated after the incident included a radius 300 meters around the tank where the leak occurred. According to him, the company located next to Innova was evacuated and isolation remains maintained. Only teams involved in responding to the incident, such as the Fire Department, Amazonas Military Police (PMAM), Civil Defense and health agencies, still have access to the location. The commander also informed that an investigation will be carried out to determine the causes of the incident. Regarding what caused the product to overheat, Muniz stated that the main hypothesis is a spontaneous reaction inside the tank. "Everything leads to a spontaneous reaction inside the tank. Once the styrene molecule breaks, a chain reaction occurs that overheats the product", he explained. According to the commander, if the safety valves were not activated, the reaction could cause an explosion or fire. "In the specific case of Innova, the tank's safety valves were released. This was what caused the leak observed in vertical jets, because the product was subjected to high pressure inside the reservoir", he stated. Until the last update of this report, there was no information about the company's possible liability for the incident. Company says the situation was controlled In a statement, Innova reported that the incident was controlled in accordance with the company's emergency protocols and that all waste generated was stored for appropriate treatment. The company also stated that there was no fire, no leakage of liquid product outside the containment area, nor any record of victims. "The situation was promptly contained in accordance with the emergency procedures established by the Company," the company said. Innova also stated that n