Acid train derails outside Walvis

A TRANSNAMIB train carrying sulphuric acid from Walvis Bay to the Roessing mine near Arandis yesterday crashed into a cement lorry crossing a railway line at the harbour town.

Two locomotives and two acid containers were derailed, although no spillage was reported. Spokespersons for both Roessing and TransNamib confirmed yesterday that no one was injured.Roessing spokesman Jerome Mutumba estimated that the train was carrying about 1 000 tons of acid, which is used in ore processing.The cement truck belongs to Etosha Transport.TransNamib was unable to estimate the extent of the damage yesterday.TransNamib spokesperson Ritha Nghiitwikwa said the train would be examined and a panel would be established to investigate the accident.She added that emergency teams were hard at work trying to normalise the situation on the railway line, and it was expected that the line would be reopened by midnight last night.The accident happened at 12h15 on the level crossing at 18th Road in Walvis Bay, she confirmed.Both companies were adamant that there was no need for concern as there was no spillage, and that bystanders’ claims that security was not adequate were unfounded.Sources on the scene argued that a reaction team from Roessing should have been on site as a matter of urgency, and that they should have cordoned off the area immediately.”If there was a leakage, they would have had to evacuate the area within about a 10-kilometre radius.But while there was no emergency workers, there were people from all over the place who just came to watch what was doing on,” one person said.”This could have been quite serious had there been a leakage,” he charged.Breathing in sulphuric acid fumes is known to cause irritation to the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath.High exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema), with severe shortness of breath.Spokespersons for both Roessing and TransNamib confirmed yesterday that no one was injured.Roessing spokesman Jerome Mutumba estimated that the train was carrying about 1 000 tons of acid, which is used in ore processing.The cement truck belongs to Etosha Transport.TransNamib was unable to estimate the extent of the damage yesterday.TransNamib spokesperson Ritha Nghiitwikwa said the train would be examined and a panel would be established to investigate the accident.She added that emergency teams were hard at work trying to normalise the situation on the railway line, and it was expected that the line would be reopened by midnight last night.The accident happened at 12h15 on the level crossing at 18th Road in Walvis Bay, she confirmed.Both companies were adamant that there was no need for concern as there was no spillage, and that bystanders’ claims that security was not adequate were unfounded.Sources on the scene argued that a reaction team from Roessing should have been on site as a matter of urgency, and that they should have cordoned off the area immediately.”If there was a leakage, they would have had to evacuate the area within about a 10-kilometre radius.But while there was no emergency workers, there were people from all over the place who just came to watch what was doing on,” one person said.”This could have been quite serious had there been a leakage,” he charged.Breathing in sulphuric acid fumes is known to cause irritation to the lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath.High exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary oedema), with severe shortness of breath.