Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

A car damages a petrol pump due to misuse of the emergency brake. The impact is not very forceful, and does not trigger the safety valve located at the base of the pump. A leak appears in the O-ring in the bent tube joining the underground pipes to the pump with a nominal flow-rate of 8 to 10 m³/hour. Approximately 4300 litres of premium unleaded petrol spill onto the ground. A station employee actuates the emergency shut-off, to no effect, and opens the device housing in order to reach the foot valve. As the pump still does not stop (another leak?), he finally shuts off the power at the electrical switchboard. A relay failure seems to have impaired proper operation of the emergency shut-off. Rescue workers cover the affected sheaths and pipes with foam. A specialised company collects the petrol and other fluids from inside the spill wall and the pumping area (8 tonnes of material). The prefect issues an emergency order.