“We must not forget that 20 years ago the same tanker somewhere in Kamena Vourla exploded when they were approached by firefighters whom it eliminated”
“A lot of citizens really suffered, clearly there was a shortage, and the shortage was caused to my knowledge by my own information because the information was not immediately known to ELAS that the tank contained what it contained (s.p. 7.2 tons of liquefied gas)” the Greek Police unionist told SKAI and the Morning News Stavros Balaskas.
“The fact that we should not have allowed citizens to enter the national road once the information was available, so that there would not be a problem with queues, was wrong, but the first information that went to ELAS was not known that there was this “bomb” in the middle of the highway” explained the trade unionist.
“We must not forget that 20 years ago, the same tanker somewhere in Kamena Vourla exploded when they were approached by firefighters whom it eliminated, eliminated them, and in fact on the camera of television crews,” said Mr. Balaskas.
So, he continued, there was the anticipation that in about an houry will be transfused and removed (the tanker). When we learned as ELAS that there is this issue, it changed (the actinization).
“Let’s praise the traffic police, the colleagues who passed car after car in the traffic jam and handed out ice water, and many citizens, unfortunately, they refused to turn around and they waited too many hours and suffered” Mr. Balaskas also noted.
“We followed all the safety measures. We did not spare the suffering of the world,” he said to ERT Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, Fire Department spokesman.
ELAS-Fire Brigade: The indignation of the drivers is respected, the incident with the tanker is complicated and dangerous
The EL.AS and the Fire Department spoke of a complicated and dangerous incident regarding the fire that broke out yesterday in a tanker transporting LPG, on the Athens-Corinth National Road and the traffic chaos that was created.
In the joint statement they issued, it is stated that “EL.AS. acted with the sole and non-negotiable aim of the safety of drivers and passengers in vehicles after the fire in the tanker”.
“The suffering, irritation and indignation of stranded drivers is completely understandable and respected,” they note.
At the same time, extensive reference is made to the actions they took and how they informed the stranded drivers until they opened both lanes of the highway at 22:40.
According to the announcement, investigative officers of the Fire Department arrested the driver of the tanker truck.
The tank truck has been transported accompanied by the Fire Department to the Isthmias of Corinth, in an outdoor parking area owned by the company of the tank truck.
The announcement in detail:
The Operations Center of the Fire Brigade was informed at 12:20, yesterday Thursday, August 17, about a fire in a tanker truck at km 46 of N.E.O. Athens – Corinth, in the traffic flow towards Corinth and at the height of Kakia Skala, in the area of ​​Megara.
33 firefighters with 11 vehicles immediately went to the scene of the fire and extinguished it. At the same time, the cargo, which consisted of 7.2 tons of liquid gas, a propellant mixture for vehicles, was found to be leaking. Due to the dangerousness of the situation, the Energy Protocol was implemented, with the presence of a security technician to remove the dangerous cargo, while the temperature was constantly checked using a thermal camera.
Throughout the process of the hazardous cargo removal operation, the Fire Service provided aerial surveillance with a Fire Service helicopter and drone systems.
EL.AS acted with the sole and non-negotiable consideration of the safety of drivers and vehicle occupants following the tanker fire.
Given the tragic experience in similar incidents in the past, it was deemed imperative, as a unique guide, to strictly follow the protocols for the removal of the dangerous material (liquefied gas), a time-consuming process but above all extremely demanding, in terms of sensitivity and risk her.
The planned actions were followed to find alternative routes (Loutraki-Perachora-Pissia-Schinos-Alepochori-Megara-Athens and a reverse route for those traveling from Athens to Corinth) to facilitate traffic and achieve relief.
It is important to understand that the actions and interventions of EL.AS. were directly linked to the evolution of the hazardous material removal process, a dynamic process due to its complexity and risk.
As it successively emerged that the operation would be delayed – despite the periodic estimates of the experts – EL.AS. he was also taking additional measures, in order to have the safest and best possible release.
At the same time, the staff of the Fire Brigade and the Hellenic Police, throughout the implementation of the emergency traffic measures, ensured that water was supplied to the drivers and passengers of a significant part of the trapped cars, which had been immobilized for safety reasons.
From the first moment for the interventions of EL.AS. there was information for drivers moving along Olympia Road, Attica Road, Morea, and Gephyra, through messages displayed on the electronic signs, so that they are constantly updated. In addition, the drivers were personally informed by the employees of the toll stations, through which they passed.
Throughout the immobilization of the vehicles, EKAB deployed four (4) engines that were constantly moving, two (2) in each traffic stream as well as four (4) ambulances, two (2) in each traffic stream, at fixed points. It is also noted that investigative officers of the Fire Department arrested the driver of the tanker truck.
The inconvenience, irritation and indignation of stranded drivers is completely understandable and respected. However, it should be understood that the competent authorities were asked to manage a complex and dangerous incident in conditions of very high traffic from the first moment, with the critical process of removing the flammable material having a dynamic nature and with its implementation being shifted in time several times during the day from the time the accident occurred and thereafter.
The tank truck has been transported accompanied by the Fire Department to the Isthmias of Corinth, in an outdoor parking area owned by the company of the tank truck.
Source: Skai
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