Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

Lightning hit an electrical transformer servicing a silo run by an agricultural cooperative, causing a 357-kg leak of PCB (polychlorobiphenyl). The product then spilled into the transformer retention tank, where it overflowed and spread into the sewer outlet located just a few metres away. The rescue teams proceeded by blocking the sewers and establishing a 100-m safety perimeter, which entailed evacuating 10 neighbours and 4 of the company’s maintenance personnel. Five individuals working near the site of the incident, who had walked in the product (one of whom had direct contact on the forearm), were transported to the St Quentin Medical Centre for decontamination. Neighbours were allowed to return to their homes and stayed indoors. In order to avoid contamination via the storm drains, the pipe was to be cleaned by a specialised company.