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A few hours after the concrete structure of a water tank at the Sidem production plant in Public collapsed, the cause of the incident remains unknown. However, gradual deterioration of the concrete tank may have been the cause. Ongoing investigations at the site will help determine the exact causes.
Crisis Meeting
Early Saturday afternoon, June 13, the crisis response team of the Territorial Operations Center (COT) convened at the Territorial Fire and Rescue Service (Stis) station in Saint-Jean. A meeting attended by the president of the territorial council, Xavier Lédée, the hospital director, Éric Djamakorzian, the STIS commander and a firefighter from the USAR team, Port Director Ernest Brin, the gendarmerie, civil security, EDF officials, and, of course, Sidem Director Laurent Berry. No press briefing was held following the meeting. However, for the second time that day, President Lédée posted a short video online to discuss “significant consequences for our territory’s essential infrastructure.” The elected official noted that “water production and distribution have been interrupted across the entire island,” without specifying when they might be restored.
He also emphasized that “the Collectivité’s marine fuel station located at the commercial port is shut down.” In the same address, President Lédée added that “the territory’s power supply is currently compromised and under strain.” The reason? A section of concrete wall at the Sidem tank collapsed onto pipes, including the fuel line that supplies the tanks at the EDF power plant in Public.
A Call for Conservation
Since the production and distribution of drinking water have been suspended for an indefinite period, the island’s population is urged to exercise great restraint in their water consumption. It is also advisable to stock up on water, especially for those whose homes do not have a cistern.
Meanwhile, Pierre-Yves Gillot, director of EDF Archipel Guadeloupe for Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, told JSB on Saturday morning that the Public power plant has a fifteen-day reserve before the engines shut down. Consequently, until reserves can be replenished, residents of Saint-Barthélemy are strongly advised to reduce their electricity consumption to “the bare minimum.”
Schools will open on Monday
The question now arises regarding the opening of schools and the cafeteria on Monday morning. In a statement released shortly after 5 p.m., the Territorial Collectivity provided an answer. “At this time, no school closures are planned,” the statement reads. “Schools in the territory, as well as the school meal service, are able to welcome children under normal operating conditions.”
A system to provide meals for those receiving home care should also be put in place. These are priorities, just like the Irénée de Bruyn Hospital.
Hospital and Nursing Home Under Restrictions
It goes without saying that the industrial accident that occurred this Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at the Sidem plant could not have been anticipated. “We have a tank that’s half-full,” explains Director Eric Djamakorzian. “In the event of a hurricane warning, we fill it completely three or four days in advance. This time, it wasn’t planned.” ” The local government was therefore contacted that morning to fill the healthcare facility’s tank using water from the Vitet reservoir. Irénée de Bruyn is now at 100% capacity. This will ensure the hospital’s water supply for… “Four days,” the director specifies. Consequently, a water usage restriction has been implemented. Just as at the nursing home (a facility for dependent elderly individuals), even though certain needs cannot be reduced, such as those of the laundry. Eric Djamakorzian also notes that the stock of bottled drinking water ordered for the hurricane season has already been received. “This will be enough to last eight days,” assures the director, who adds that the housing units located next to the nursing home are also subject to water restrictions.
Solutions Needed for Port Users
At this time, approximately 150 inhabited boats are anchored in the waters of the port of Saint-Barthélemy. For this segment of the population, access to drinking water and restroom facilities is now compromised. Indeed, if water distribution is no longer guaranteed, the showers and toilets installed at the back of the Territorial Collectivity hotel’s parking lot will become unusable. Boat occupants will therefore be forced to stockpile drinking water while waiting for a solution to be found so they can access a water source or a distribution point.
Teams on the scene at the Sidem site
Since this morning, all relevant emergency services have been mobilized at the site of the industrial accident at Sidem. Plant technicians, agents from the Territorial Collectivity’s technical services, the territorial police, the gendarmerie, Saur, and, above all, the STIS firefighters. In particular, the men and women of the Search and Rescue Unit (USAR). Several site surveys were conducted, both on the ground and from the air using a drone. The area where the concrete tank “exploded” was inspected from every angle. “This weekend will be devoted to clearing the debris, and nighttime operations may be carried out,” states the local government’s press release. For the teams, the goal is to remove the section of wall that collapsed onto the pipes, particularly the EDF fuel line. This is a delicate, even perilous operation. Emergency and repair equipment will arrive from Saint Martin over the weekend. “Technical repairs will not begin until next week,” confirms the Territorial Collectivity’s statement. In the meantime, water conservation is essential for all residents and consumers on the island.
As for the response teams, they will work during the day—and likely at night as well—to complete repairs as quickly as possible. This will help ensure the population is not deprived of water and electricity. However, while a resumption of production is possible in the short term, this is not expected to be the case for distribution via the grid.
Finally, a territorial decree issued late this afternoon orders the temporary closure of “Impasse de l’Industrie,” which leads to Public Beach and the Paprec Energies/Ouanalao Environnement waste treatment center.
