At least 51 people have been hospitalized Sunday with symptoms of poisoning after a wagon containing ammonia overturned in Pirot, southeastern Serbia.
The mayor of Pirot, Vladan Vasic, has declared a state of emergency in the town, and has urged citizens not to leave their homes and not to open windows.
«For now the main recommendation is for people not to leave their homes, not to turn on air conditioners, i.e. not to let outside air into the house, and therefore not to open the windows,» he said at an extraordinary press conference reported by the RTS channel.
The vehicle carrying ammonia went off the road, falling into a river. The reaction of the ammonia in contact with the water caused dense smoke.
«We have prepared an order to suspend the work of schools and all institutions tomorrow Monday in the first shift, although we will recommend the suspension of working all day by schools,» added the mayor, regretting the consequences for flora and fauna in the vicinity of the incident.
Serbian authorities will move during the day on Monday to the scene to investigate whether there were any irregularities in transporting the ammonia, as well as to identify the cause of the accident.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
