The damage caused by the leaked chemicals from the UPL Ltd warehouse that was set alight during looting unrest two weeks ago has caused considerable damage to the environment.
In the week of July 12th, hundreds of businesses and warehouses were looted, ransacked and some even set alight. An estimated 1600 chemicals were stored at the UPL Ltd warehouse. KwaZulu-Natal’s Chief Director of Environmental Management Siphumelele Nowele says biodiversity and freshwater systems are at stake. Nowele adds that these kinds of chemicals cannot be disposed of at local landfill sites without prior consent.
Tons of dead fish were collected in the vicinity of Umhlanga lagoon and beach. No cases of acute human toxicity have been reported.
[Picture: Independent Media]
