The Ministry of the Environment and the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps confirmed in a press release that the extinguishing water used to tackle the Gadderscheier industrial zone blaze has 'massively polluted' the river Chiers.
The press release detailed that the huge quantity of water required to extinguish the fire meant that the retention basin was not able to completely collect all the water used. Consequently, part of the water used flowed into the river.
Samples taken from various areas of the river show high concentration levels of ammonium and a near-total absence of oxygen in the water. The ministry detailed that these levels could be fatal for aquatic life in the river, especially in the event of low water levels.
The ministry has alerted both the Belgian and French authorities, as the river flows through both countries. The Water Management Agency and CGDIS have put emergency measures in place to ensure as great a reduction of the pollution's impact on natural life. A taskforce will also examine how the emergency services can better and more effectively keep extinguishing water out of rivers.
Fire - updated - Sanem/Differdange: Fire extinguished, say CGDIS on Friday
