plunged into the Kafue river spewing its entire content into the river,
The Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) ECZ Principal Information and Communication Officer Irene Lungu, says the incident occured on 29th October, 2009, at Chiawa Pontoon in Chirundu.
Ms Lungu said said the tanker was pulled out of Kafue River on 2nd November this year and the total amount of diesel that spilt into the Kafue River is estimated to be 10,500 litres from the tanks which were punctured during the accident.
The ECZ Principal Information and Communication Officer said this in a statement obtained by ZANIS IN Lusaka, today.
She added that following the accident, a combined team from ECZ, Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) officials were dispatched to the accident site to verify the report and assess the situation.
She disclosed that water quality measurements, physical observations and collection of water samples were carried out to determine the extent of pollution on site.
Ms Lungu said collection of water samples was carried out at distances taken randomly to determine the extent of the pollution.
She said the tests revealed that all the parameters were within the ECZ statutory limits for effluent and waste water.
Ms Lungu said ECZ was concerned that the consumption of water containing diesel could put the health of the users at risk.
She disclosed that ECZ in conjunction with other stakeholders like Zambia Wild Life Authority and Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company operators sent out awareness messages to the affected communities especially those along Kafue and Zambezi Rivers.
She said the tanker was pulled out of Kafue River on 2nd November this year and the total amount of diesel that spilt into the Kafue River is estimated to be 10,500 litres from the tanks which were punctured during the accident.
Ms Lungu said ECZ would like to thank all stakeholders among them DMMU, DWA and ZAWA in responding to the accident.
She advised the Oil transport companies to ensure that sufficient measures are put in place to safeguard human health and the environment.
another tragedy!
atleast no people involved this time. Its an environmental tragedy!
thats why KK build the pipeline, why isnt it being used I wonder.Our founding fathers had more foresight than the quacks ruling us these days.
Please make sure that the culprits are fined heavily! We do not want the repeat of the KCM case where the company,after contaminating the Kafue with acid and making pipo sick, were fined as if they are charging a poor individual like me. Kubalyamo biggy!!
Now with this government taking over Indeni, we’re headed back to the days of the “hell run”.
Hey atleast no person died, but what was ZAWA doing with guns?just lite the river to burn out the diesel and we will have clean and none diesel waters of the Kafue and Zambezi river
We are yet to know the effects of this on living things including ourselves human beings. We may not rule out death at this moment.
What is going on in Zambia, it seems like all the time we hear about these bad things. this will result in death of the fish, not only the fish, other things will be affected by this too.
when will you Zambians, become responsible and look after yourselves. God must really not like you cheaps,
If Zambia is Blessed then Please don’t Bless me.
no: 10 ar u sure with yo words?
Kelvin ok then we ‘curse’ you since you dont want the zed blessing
Smells a conspiracy. An oil tank can’t rapture when it falls from a bridge. Besides drivers drive slowly at bridges. It’s possible there was no fuel in teh tank by the time it plunged. How come the water in teh river is still safe, implying there wasn’t that much spillage.
Kelvin, we reverse our zed ‘curse’ and we live you alone, live us alone. Now run!
#10 Kelvin.
Be careful what you wish for. Would you rather have a life full of curses?
Government tricks!
So, you chaps think Zed is Blessed. Average age of death 39, Zambia is listed in the top 50 poorest countries in the world, KPMG rated Zambia ,31 most corrupt countries. If you go to UTH chances of you coming out alive 25%percent. Your government cant look after you.You have high levels of HIV, Malaria, People die of hunger in Zed. I curse no one, I am just telling the truth.