BETONG: A lorry tanker driver managed to escape with minor injuries after the vehicle which was transporting 33.39 tonnes of natrium hydroxide crashed at KM23, Jalan Skrang-Betong today (July 17).
Firemen who were despatched to the scene found the vehicle overturned and blocking part of the single carriageway road.
Betong fire chief Vincent Baling Yabi said the driver who escaped with minor injuries, was decontaminated at one of the fire trucks.
“We found that the chemical substance transported by the tanker was alkaline based and odourless but very toxic.
“My men have set up a 100-metre perimeter radius safety zone at the scene as two leak points on the top of the tanker were discovered,” he told.
A hazmat team led by Mohamad Meramit arrived at the scene to assess and inspect the leakages from the tanker, which happened on the second manhole cover.
Vincent stated that the team had completed the containment of the liquid material and they were waiting for stabilisation works of the tanker by the truck’s company.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation at the time of writing.
