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At around 9 a.m. on Friday, October 11, a detonation was followed by the spread of a toxic cloud in Colombier. The incident occurred at the water tower of Saur, the island's water distribution company. Two Saur employees were mixing chemicals (chloridric acid and sodium chloride) in a tank, and allegedly made a dosage error. As a result, a chemical reaction was triggered. In this case, a detonation followed by the formation of a cloud of toxic smoke.
Emergency services were immediately alerted. Seventeen Stis firefighters were on the scene within minutes of the incident, supported by the gendarmerie and local police. The two Saur agents were taken to hospital. However, both agents were uninjured.
At the same time, safety measures were also put in place at the Sainte-Marie de Colombier school. Although the toxic cloud was relatively short-lived, it did provoke some reactions among some of the pupils. All schoolchildren and staff were examined by the fire department and a doctor in an assembly area. At the same time, as a precaution and in line with incident procedure, the school management activated its Plan particulier de mise en sécurité (PPMS). The children were examined," explains school principal Laurence Rebatel. Lieutenant Laurens, commander of the Stis, made the same observation. "The toxic cloud has dissipated and there is no longer any danger," he says.
The access road to the school was blocked throughout the operations. The school and neighbouring houses were placed under lockdown. Francius Matignon, the local councillor in charge of school affairs, was on hand to monitor the operation as it unfolded. 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 present. "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 could smell a strong "ammonia odor".
In an online publication, Saur explains: "On the morning of Friday, October 11, 2024, a technical incident occurred during the monthly replenishment of disinfection products for the distribution of drinking water. The intervention of the Fire and Rescue 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.
More details in the next issue of JSB.
