Authorities took 17 hours to alert public after ship capsizes, spills 180 tons of dangerous chemical in Puntarenas
(Pinterest / CR Hoy)
May 4th, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) Cracks were revealed in Costa Rica’s emergency response capabilities after a ship carrying 180 tons of ammonium nitrate capsized on Saturday, spilling its contents into the sea off the crowded beaches of the port of Caldera in Puntarenas.
Although the incident took place around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, authorities did not declare a so-called “red alert” until 12 hours later, and failed to inform the public for an additional five hours after the alert was issued.
In total, authorities took 17 hours – until 7:33 a.m. the next day – to warn the public to stay out of the water, despite the fact that the nearby beaches were especially crowded with vacationers celebrating the long May Day weekend.
Ammonium nitrate is a chemical commonly used in fertilizers and explosives. Short-term exposure to the chemical by humans can cause skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness.
Authorities had lifted a swimming ban by late Sunday, lowering the official alert level to “yellow,” but a ban on fishing in the Gulf of Nicoya remains in place until Wednesday, while experts conduct water analysis to determine when fishing can be resumed.
The vessel and its cargo, owned by a company called FERTICA, was apparently struck by a powerful wave which caused the ship to capsize about one kilometer from the lighthouse in Puntarenas. It was also carrying about 90 gallons of diesel fuel. There were two crew members onboard, both of which were safely rescued without significant injuries.
Meanwhile, authorities and experts are concerned that the release of the chemical could cause what is known as a “red tide,” which has the potential to suffocate and kill sea life.
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