Hydrochloric acid spilled on freeway after tanker overturns

Firefighters sprayed water on the road surface to dilute hydrochloric acid that spilled from a tanker truck that overturned on National Highway 1 in Yunlin County today, January 17.

Yunlin County Fire Department said that it received a report about an overturned chemical tanker in the northbound lanes of the freeway at the 241 kilometer mark at around 1:30 pm.

Firefighters found the driver of the truck conscious and without serious injury. However, hydrochloric acid had leaked onto the road surface, and was emitting white smoke.

The leaked chemical was identified as UN No. 1789 food-grade hydrochloric acid with a concentration of 32%. Firefighters sprayed water to dilute the acid. Personnel from the Environmental Protection Bureau and Central District Environmental Accident Professional Technical Team were also dispatched to the scene of the accident.

Absorbent cotton was used to soak up the chemical and the truck was righted using a crane. Traffic flow was resumed at 4:15 pm.

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