Local police reported that 104 individuals sustained injuries following a chemical spill from a tanker truck on the Purwakarta-Padalarang Road in West Java's West Bandung District.
"We record 104 residents with minor injuries and four others suffered severe injuries due to the chemical leak," Cimahi Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Tri Suhartanto stated here on Friday.
The truck leaked sodium hydroxide (NaOH) liquid, also known as caustic soda, along the Purwakarta-Padalarang Road while travelling southward to Bandung from Purwakarta District, West Java, on Tuesday (December 24). The truck did not stop, causing damages and injuries along the way.
Following a medical examination, most victims suffered from stinging eyes and skin blisters due to exposure to the chemical liquid, he revealed, adding that the four victims suffered severe burns due to prolonged exposure.
Meanwhile, the leak caused damage to around 200 motorcycles and cars. Vehicle owners complained of damages to their vehicles' outer body and engine due to the NaOH liquid, Suhartanto stated.
The police chief confirmed that a local company, CV Yasindo Multi Prima, claimed responsibility for damages and injuries caused by their negligence as the owner of the malfunctioning truck.
"The company will be responsible for losses due to the incident. We are still assessing damages to the vehicles," he affirmed.
Earlier, an official from West Bandung District's environment agency, Adi, stated on Tuesday that the local authority will summon the truck owner for further probe.
"We also coordinated with the police for follow-up actions," Adi remarked.
In response to the incident on Tuesday, officials from the district's environment agency deployed detergent and neutralizing liquid to decontaminate the affected roadway.
"For the initial response, we coordinated with the fire department to clear the chemical liquid from the road's surface as it made the road slippery," he noted.
Editor : Vicki Febrianto
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