SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - The Eden District Municipality Fire and Rescue Services Unit was called out to assist at a major diesel spill in Meiringspoort today, Tuesday August 15.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident happened at around 11:00 when a tanker transporting diesel from Mossel Bay to Beaufort West overturned before the third bridge in the poort, close to Klaarstroom.
The driver broke his left leg during the accident.
Eden District Municipality teams will be installing filters at the waterfall in the poort in an effort to contain approximately 42 000 liters of spilled diesel.
Although some of the diesel got trapped in the sandy soil next to the road, most of the diesel (about 35 000 liters) is believed to have spilled into the river.
The District Roads Department (DPI), Cape Nature, Eden Environmental Heath and Spill Tech from Mossel Bay have been tasked to assist.
The Oudtshoorn Municipality disaster management unit will be contacting farmers downstream of the spill to warn them in terms of the use of possible contaminated water that could pose a threat to humans and the environment.
More information to follow as it becomes available.
It is believed that about 35 000 litres of diesel spilled into the river.
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