SOUTH AFRICA – The Ecowize nitric acid incident in Montague Gardens
A chemical incident at the Ecowize hygiene-products facility in Montague Gardens on 12 January 2026 released a plume of toxic nitrogen dioxide gas, prompting emergency road closures and limited evacuations. Despite the dramatic appearance of the event, authorities confirmed that the situation was brought under control within hours, with no fatalities and only minor injuries reported.
The event occurred shortly before midday at Ecowize’s manufacturing site near the intersection of Montague Drive and Link Road, an industrial area of Cape Town. An orange-yellow cloud rising from the premises initially led to reports of a fire, but emergency officials later clarified that the plume resulted from a chemical reaction rather than combustion.
Preliminary findings indicate that the incident was caused by the unintended mixing of nitric acid and phosphoric acid in a storage system. This reaction produced nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas known for its respiratory hazards. Investigations are ongoing, with a focus on storage arrangements and transfer procedures within the facility. Ecowize, whose operations routinely involve both acids, did not issue an immediate public statement or disclose details about the quantities involved or how the mixing occurred.
Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services were alerted shortly after 14:00 and declared a hazardous-materials incident. Specialised hazmat teams, equipped with fully encapsulated protective suits, were deployed to assess the site, monitor temperatures, and ensure that no further reactions were occurring. By approximately 17:00, officials reported that the reaction had stabilised.
By early evening, inspections confirmed that the vapour cloud had dissipated and no residual reactions were detected. Roads were reopened progressively, and by the morning of 13 January the area had returned to normal, with no air-quality alerts or environmental contamination reports issued.
Four individuals, believed to be employees or workers in the immediate vicinity, received on-site medical treatment for mild exposure-related symptoms. One person was transported to hospital for observation and later discharged. No additional injuries were reported, and the surrounding residential areas were largely unaffected, aided by favourable wind conditions and the industrial nature of the location.
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