8/3/2019 6335 Firemen Killed in Explosions Unaware of
Chemicals
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Firemen killed in explosions unaware of chemicals
Written by Kyaw Kha
Thursday, 29 December 2011 22:17 -
(Mizzima) Five firemen who died in explosions at a state-owned
chemical storage warehouse
in Mingalar Taungnyunt Township in Rangoon on Thursday were
apparently unaware of
hazardous chemicals in the warehouses.
Authorities said the death toll now numbers more than 20 dead
and 91 people injured.
According to figures compiled at 5 p.m. on Thursday, the 91
people injured in the disaster
included 31 firemen, six reserve firemen and 54 civilians.
An official with the Rangoon Region Central Fire Department told
Mizzima: To prevent the fire
from spreading to other areas, the firemen only devoted their
attention to extinguishing the fire
and then the chemical materials exploded. We did not know that
they [the chemical material]were in the warehouses.
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8/3/2019 6335 Firemen Killed in Explosions Unaware of
Chemicals
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Firemen killed in explosions unaware of chemicals
Written by Kyaw Kha
Thursday, 29 December 2011 22:17 -
The guards at the warehouses were killed in the explosions, he
said.
Four of the dead firemen were from the Mingalar Taungnyunt Fire
Department, and one was
from the Rangoon Region Central Fire Department. The funerals of
the five firemen were held
on Thursday evening at Yayway Cemetery.
The explosions damaged eight out of 57 fire engines that
responded to the scene.
Sixteen of the warehouses, which are said to be owned by the
Ministry of Commerce, were
destroyed. Township police said at least one of the warehouses
is believed to have contained
enamel and chemicals, including ammonia and sulfuric acid, which
may have caused the
explosions.
If some materials are combined they can react, explode and cause
fires. We think the
explosions happened this way, a police officer at the Mingalar
Taungnyunt Township PoliceStation told Mizzima.
Laboratory tests will be conducted to determine if residual
chemical materials in the warehouses
posed a danger to people, he said.
Meanwhile, critics have blamed not only the government for
storing chemicals in a densely
populated area of the city, but also the Myanmar Fire Department
for failing to provide
systematic training to firefighters to better deal with fires
that could pose a hazardous chemical
threat.
The explosions caused numerous fires that spread through
Khtohseik Ward. Estimates say
about 1,000 people from more than 140 families are now
homeless.
Victims have taken refuge at primary schools No. 20 and No. 24,
and the Mahawizaya Yama
Monastery in Patheinnyunt Ward in Tamwe Township, said Mingalar
Taungnyunt Township
deputy police chief Myo Myint Kyaing, who is managing the rescue
effort.
Donations to victims have been provided by the central womens
wing of the National League
for Democracy, the ruling Union Solidarity and Development
Party, charity groups and individual
businessmen who have taken food, clothing, drinking water and
medicine to the victims.
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