Pipeline accident leaks diesel to River Ula

Mikalai Alchimovic, CEO of the ZapadNefteProdukt, the pipeline owner, revealed that almost 100 cubic meters of diesel were leaked from the pipe.

Seven slick bars have been put on the River Ula to collect the floating fuel splashes. Over 400 liters of fuel have already been collected. Absorbents are being dispersed on the river banks.

Emergency workers also put up slick bars near the town of Verhniadzvinsk on the River Zahodniaja Dzvina. Around 200 rescuers, over 50 vehicles and 10 boats have been brought in to handle the accident.

The faulty leg of the pipeline has already been repaired. According to preliminary investigation, the leak occurred due to disintegration of the metal pipe.

Local residents said they did not hear any explosion, but figured out that something had happened when they saw emergency workers arriving in big numbers. Later, villagers could clearly smell fuel in the air. Diesel slicks could be observed on the water surface within 10-15 km stretch.

One day after the accident, beavers abandoned the river. However, not all of them managed to escape. A local resident told our radio that he found a dead beaver on the river bank. The fur was all covered with fuel oil, he said.