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GWI contains gas leak after area evacuation
A potentially deadly situation was averted yesterday after the Guyana Water Inc. contained a chlorine gas leak at its Better Hope, East Coast Demerara Water Treatment Facility.
Two officials from the Guyana Fire Service Hazmat team removing the cylinder
The gas leak was first reported early Saturday morning and following its containment an investigation was launched into the incident. At least one person has been hospitalized following the leak.
For hours, several residents of the East Coast Demerara community were in a state of panic after they were rushed out of their homes when word of the chlorine leak spread.
According to a GWI official, the leak was first reported by a female operator of the utility company. A GWI official explained that the woman had been on duty at the time and had picked up the peculiar smell. After realizing that something was terribly wrong and that there was a possible leak, the operator quickly informed her superiors.
Though prompt, the woman was nonetheless affected. She was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital after complaining of difficulties with her breathing.
Though she had smelled the chlorine, the official explained that GWI could not immediately ascertain where it was coming from or whether more than one cylinder was damaged. GWI was only able to pinpoint that the leak had occurred in the area where the chlorine cylinders were stored.
Along with the aid of a Hazmat team from the Guyana Fire Service, GWI was forced to scour through the storage facility, carefully checking each cylinder to determine where the leakage was.
Simultaneously, nearby residents were quickly advised to evacuate their homes. The official estimated that fewer than 30 persons were forced to leave the surrounding area. GWI employees were also evacuated from the compound.
The official explained that the main concern of the deployed teams was to contain the leak to allow easy breathing. It did not seem that the possibility of an explosion was a major concern.
Finally, after about 5 hours of hunting for the leak, GWI was able to detect and subsequently contain it. Fortunately, only one cylinder was found to be damaged. It was quickly separated from the facility and was soon buried as an extra precaution.
According to GWI, an investigation has immediately been launched into the incident. This investigation will be headed by GWI’s Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Christopher Cathro. Residents were also advised to return to their homes.
Meanwhile, the operator who discovered the leak remains under observation. She was reportedly provided with oxygen and remains conscious.
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