Incident Report

Subject:                   Belgium - Derailed Train Releases Toxic Acrylonitrile into the Air

Date of Email report:   Tue 07/05/2013

Report Detail:

Three hundred residents within a perimeter of five hundred meters had to be evacuated on Saturday May 4th, because of a train accident near Ghent, Belgium. Six of the thirteen cars of the cargo train coming from Holland derailed and three caught fire releasing in the atmosphere fumes of the toxic substance Acrylonitrile.  The chemical is used in the production of plastics.

One person died and seventeen were hospitalized.  However, the actual number of casualties remains unconfirmed.  Soon after the accident, Jan Briers, Governor of the Province of Flandres, reported two deaths.  Official statements rectified the number to one deceased.

Belgian authorities immediately after the accident put into effect an emergency plan and secured the area asking all residents up to one thousand meters to remain in their houses with doors and windows firmly closed. As the liquid chemical escaped into the drainage system though, firefighters had to flush it with large quantities of water to dissolve it.  As the Governor implied talking with local TV journalists reporting from the spot, sensor readings were still above safe levels till late in the morning.

The fire has been left to burn off for many hours to exhaust its fuel out of fears that throwing any substance in the flame – even water – would have risked making things worse.  The released gas resembles to cyanide experts say. Later in the afternoon firefighters started to spraying cooling foam to reduce heat in the area.

Acrylonitrile is known to be explosive under certain circumstances however the causes of the accident are not yet determined.  The train was moving in very low speed because of works in progress next to the rails and it was about to change lanes when the tragic event occurred around 2:00 a.m.  Witnesses reported hearing blasts and seeing huge fire blazes from the point of the accident.  Rail and road traffic was disrupted between the communities of Wetteren and Schellebelle for security reasons.  Deviations for passengers will be available for the next few days till the roads and rails are freed.

Subject:                   Belgium - Train Crash: Acrylonitrile On Fire Near Ghent

Second Email report:   Sat 11/05/2013

A train carrying chemicals derails and catches fire, killing one and forcing hundreds to flee their homes as deadly fumes spread

Three hundred residents within a perimeter of five hundred meters had to be evacuated on Saturday May 4th, because of a train accident near Ghent, Belgium. Six of the thirteen cars of the cargo train coming from Holland derailed and three caught fire releasing in the atmosphere fumes of the toxic substance Acrylonitrile.  The chemical is used in the production of plastics.  One person died and seventeen were hospitalized.  However, the actual number of casualties remains unconfirmed.  Soon after the accident, Jan Briers, Governor of the Province of Flandres, reported two deaths. 

Official statements rectified the number to one deceased.  Belgian authorities immediately after the accident put into effect an emergency plan and secured the area asking all residents up to one thousand meters to remain in their houses with doors and windows firmly closed. As the liquid chemical escaped into the drainage system though, firefighters had to flush it with large quantities of water to dissolve it.  As the Governor implied talking with local TV journalists reporting from the spot, sensor readings were still above safe levels till late in the morning.  The fire has been left to burn off for many hours to exhaust its fuel out of fears that throwing any substance in the flame – even water – would have risked making things worse. 

The released gas resembles to cyanide experts say. Later in the afternoon firefighters started to spraying cooling foam to reduce heat in the area.  Acrylonitrile is known to be explosive under certain circumstances however the causes of the accident are not yet determined.  The train was moving in very low speed because of works in progress next to the rails and it was about to change lanes when the tragic event occurred around 2:00 a.m.  Witnesses reported hearing blasts and seeing huge fire blazes from the point of the accident.  Rail and road traffic was disrupted between the communities of Wetteren and Schellebelle for security reasons.  Deviations for passengers will be available for the next few days till the roads and rails are freed

Additional Documentation: