Note: Three stories below on this unfolding Australian disaster. A train derailment caused a massive leak of diesel and sufuric acid

Dam bursts after massive fuel spill from train derailment

A dam built to contain diesel from a massive fuel spill near Richmond, in north Queensland, has burst.

Heavy rains and a strong flow of water through the Namoi Creek meant the dam was unable to hold the water any longer.

It is bad news for the environmental impact of the spill, which happened after a train derailed yesterday.

Richmond resident Rob Ievers says Queensland Rail (QR) workers have hired a helicopter to assess how far the spill has travelled down the river system.

"The fuel and water have gone down the gully toward the Flinders River," he said.

"QR, I've just spoken to John Kehoe, general manager of operations, and he has informed me that they are hiring a helicopter and they're going to go out and have a look at the extent of the spread of the diesel."

Link

http://www.abc.net.au/news/state/qld/metqld-16feb2000-8.htm

Rail diesel spill clean-up continues

The mop-up operation for a 120,000 litre diesel spill near Richmond, in Queensland's northern inland, continues today.

No-one was hurt in the accident, but the impact on the environment is unknown.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority area director Alan Hogg says fuel was spilt into a river, although a levy bank managed to contain the spill.

He says firefighters are expected to remain at the scene for at least 24 hours.

Queensland Rail says seven wagons are being moved to Cloncurry from the accident site, 40 kilometres east of Richmond.

Diesel from several of the wagons and a wagon that held sulphuric acid, is being be decanted into other containers.

Five freight trains cannot get through as 400-metres of rail track has been destroyed.

Inlander passenger train services today will run by bus.

Link

http://www.abc.net.au/news/state/qld/default.htm Chemical spill contained in north Queensland Authorities appear to have contained a major chemical spill, following a train derailment in northern Queensland today.

The train derailed 45 kilometres east of Richmond at 10:00am today, spilling 120,000 litres of diesel fuel and sulphuric acid from the wagons in the goods train.

Some of the spilt fuel ended up in the nearby Namoi Creek, which was dammed to prevent it from spreading downstream.

Police imposed an emergency area 1 kilometre around the site, but have since declared it safe.

Workers will be back at the site again tomorrow to continue the clean-up.

Imogen Zethoven from the Queensland Conservation Council has called for an inquiry.

"I understand that that system flows into the Flinders River, which is a major river system in the southern gulf," she said.

"Not only would it have lethal impacts nearby but also possibly chronic impacts in the medium term.

"We believe it's absolutely critical that the emergency staff have the resources to, and it sounds like they are, put every effort into trying to stop this from entering the system," Ms Zethoven said.

Link

http://www.abc.net.au/news/state/qld/metqld-15feb2000-16.htm

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 16, 2000

Answers

".... and a third of the waters became wormwood ...."

-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@upina.cellrelaytower), February 16, 2000.