“Go into closed rooms immediately” – Krefeld warns residents after an acid accident on the A57

Authorities have warned of health risks after an accident involving a truck loaded with nitric acid in Krefeld. Four schools and two kindergartens remained closed on Friday as a precaution, according to the city and fire department.

Due to the operation, Autobahn 57 was temporarily completely closed between the Krefeld-Oppum and Krefeld-Gartenstadt junctions. The rail connection between Duisburg and Krefeld was also interrupted.

According to the fire department, a dangerous goods transporter had an accident on Friday night at the Krefeld-Zentrum junction on the A57. Strongly corrosive nitric acid escaped, which could pose a fire risk under certain conditions. Around 200 emergency services were on site. The driver of the truck was taken to hospital with injuries.

Crews worked to seal the leak and collect the escaping acid. A warning was issued via the NINA warning system for a radius of 1000 meters around the incident site. In addition, the sirens in the area were triggered as a precaution. The city appealed to residents in the Bockum and Linn districts: “Please immediately go into closed rooms in the affected area and close windows and doors.”

How long the operation will last is unclear. The city and fire department want to provide information via warning systems, local radio and the media and give the all-clear as soon as the danger has passed. The emergency numbers 110 and 112 should only be dialed in emergencies. The city's central citizen information center can be reached on 02151 19700.

The first measurements in the air showed values ​​below the tolerance limits, said the head of the city of Krefeld's security department, Andreas Klos, to the “Rheinische Post”. However, the area should continue to be avoided.