Update:
A joint statement from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Fire Services in cooperation with Garden District Disaster Risk Management and NSRI Southern Cape confirmed that there is no longer a risk to the public as all hazardous chemical containers have been recovered and sealed.
According to the statement, a further two containers were detected on the Mossel Bay coastline. One washed ashore in Hartenbos and was recovered by GRDM Fire & Rescue Services early yesterday morning.
‘This container was, however, empty and posed no risk,’ said the statement.
A third container was recovered by NSRI Mossel Bay, in cooperation with GRDM Fire & Rescue Services after it was detected about 700 metres off-shore in the Mossel Bay Harbour, approaching the De Bakke shore.
The container was then sealed and transferred by GRDM Fire & Rescue Services.
The statement reported that another blue container was recovered from Arniston Beach, but was found to be unrelated and posed no risk to the public.
Marclean, who deal with hazardous materials, particularly marine waste in this case, was involved in these operations.
While there is no further risk, emergency services will remain on 24-hour alert.
A hazardous material team removed a 200kg sealed container holding hazardous chemicals near Kleinjongensfontein beach on the Garden Route.
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The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) sent out a public warning yesterday, advising residents not to approach ‘any 200kg blue sealed container found washed ashore or adrift at sea along the Garden Route or South Cape Coastline’.
The Garden Route Fire and Rescue Services stepped in to deal with the container, which contains dangerous chemicals. Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Garden Route (GRDRM) confirmed that the sealed container was not a ‘present risk’.
However, the NSRI stated a concern that three more containers could be adrift at sea, in the area or washed ashore along the stretch of coastline at Jongensfontein, about 17km outside Stilbaai.
While there are no reports of any dangerous chemical containers missing off any ship at sea, the NSRI is investigating the matter.
If you spot such a container, please call the GRDRM on 044 805 5071 or the Western Cape Health EMS on 101 77 immediately.
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Picture: National Sea Rescue Institute