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An incident involving the handling of chemicals by Saur agents on Friday, October 11, not far from the Sainte-Marie de Colombier school, produced a toxic cloud that quickly evaporated.
A few sore throats, slight headaches, nothing more. Nevertheless, the confinement of part of the Colombier district on Friday, October 11 created a small wave of panic. Particularly among the parents of pupils at Sainte-Marie school when they learned that a "slight explosion", according to the Collectivité territoriale, had been followed by the formation of a toxic cloud. This was the result of an incident that occurred at around 9 a.m. in a Saur facility located near the water tower, not far from the school.
In a short publication posted on a so-called "social" network, Saur, the company responsible for distributing drinking water on the island, summed up in a few words: "A technical incident occurred during the monthly replenishment of disinfection products for the distribution of drinking water. The intervention of the emergency and fire services and the implementation of the associated precautionary measures enabled the incident to be quickly brought under control. This incident has no impact on the conformity or quality of the water distributed. All Saur agents are well. "For its part, still online, the Collectivité territoriale referred to "a low-intensity explosion caused by a technical incident on a 1,000-liter chemical tank".
A hazardous mixture
It was around 9 a.m. on Friday, October 11, when two Saur agents were carrying out a routine operation. However, as they were mixing two chemicals (chloridric acid and sodium chloride), it appeared that they had made a dosing error. The result is a chemical reaction. In this case, a slight detonation followed by the formation of a toxic cloud of smoke. This cloud rose into the air and spread rapidly over a radius of around 800 metres.
Emergency services were immediately alerted. Seventeen firefighters from the Service territorial d'incendie et de secours (Stis) responded within minutes of the incident, supported by the gendarmerie, the territorial police and Smur (mobile emergency and resuscitation structures). After examination, the two Saur employees were transported to Bruyn hospital, where they were later discharged unharmed. At the same time, safety measures were put in place at the Sainte-Marie de Colombier school.
Although the chemical cloud was relatively short-lived, as it was quickly dispersed by the wind, it did cause some irritation among some of the pupils. Following the announcement that the school and neighboring homes were under lockdown, the schoolchildren and staff were examined by the two Smur doctors and the Stis doctor in an assembly area. Particular attention was paid to the children in the two classes who were in the playground when the accident occurred.
Safety plan
The fire department and the Smur (emergency medical service) intervened on the premises of Sainte-Marie school to examine the children and staff.
At the same time, as a precaution and in accordance with incident procedure, the school management activated its Plan particulier de mise en sécurité (PPMS). The children were examined," explains school principal Laurence Rebatel. There were minor headaches, a few itchy throats, but no after-effects. "
Lieutenant Christophe Laurens, commander of the Stis, made the same observation. But that didn't stop many parents, anxious to get their child back, from expressing their concern with a few outbursts. This mood subsided when they received confirmation that the schoolchildren's health was not in danger.
The access road to the school was blocked throughout the operation. Francius Matignon, territorial councillor in charge of school affairs, was on hand to monitor the operation. Vincent Berton, Delegate Prefect for the Northern Isles, was also present on Saint-Barthélemy, visiting the Saur site and the Sainte-Marie school. Jean-Charles Gréaux, President of the Ogec (Catholic Education Management Organization), was also on site. "As soon as I heard, I came to the school and the firemen were already there," he says. From his house, below the school, he says he smelled a strong "ammonia odor". In the end, more fear than harm. But a good scare all the same.
