By NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan officials have issued an urgent appeal for assistance in locating several containers of a highly toxic chemical looted from an overturned lorry near the capital city, Nairobi. The incident has raised significant health and environmental concerns.
The chemical, identified as sodium cyanide, is highly dangerous. Health officials warned that even small amounts, if swallowed or inhaled, could be fatal. Additionally, it poses a severe environmental threat. Authorities emphasized the urgent need to recover the containers to prevent further risks.
It is not uncommon for looting to occur at accident sites in Kenya. On Saturday, after a lorry overturned on the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway, several containers were taken by individuals who rushed to the scene. The government has strongly urged people to avoid the site and report any sightings of the containers to the nearest police station. The US embassy has also advised its citizens to take a detour around the area.
The accident occurred approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Nairobi, causing a significant spillage on the tarmac. While the cause of the overturn is still unknown, and the condition of the driver remains undisclosed, the national environmental agency has stressed the importance of not coming into contact with the contents of the containers.
The agency cautioned that the containers hold white substances in pellet form, which can interfere with oxygen use, leading to rapid death if ingested or inhaled. Symptoms of exposure include headache, dizziness, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, and convulsions. The health ministry advised that only trained personnel equipped with protective gear should handle the chemical.
Kenyan health officials have warned that sodium cyanide can contaminate soil and groundwater, persisting in the environment for an extended period and causing long-term ecological damage. The chemical is primarily used in industrial applications such as fumigation, gold extraction, and silver mining.
Authorities are taking this situation very seriously and have requested the public’s cooperation in locating the looted containers to mitigate the severe health and environmental risks posed by sodium cyanide.
bbc.com
