Macassar Gas Disaster (AECI stockpile catches fire)

The Coloured residential area of Macassar, Western Cape, was swiftly evacuated after a 15 000 ton sulphur dioxide stockpile belonging to the local African Explosives and Chemical Industries (AECI) plant caught fire, releasing harmful respiratory-toxic gas into the air.  The South Eastern wind blew the gas in the direction of Macassar. [i] News reports confirmed that two brothers from Macassar, who had previously suffered from asthma, died as a result of the harmful gases they had inhaled. [ii] As a result of the disaster, many residents of Macassar experienced asthma and other respiratory problems and allergies. [iii] Residents, along with local farmers were allowed to apply for compensation for damages occurring as a result of the disaster. [iv] Endnotes [i] Baatjies, R. 2012. Environmental and host factors associated wuth persistent lower respiratory tract symptoms or asthma following acute environmental exposure to sulphur dioxide (SO2) [Online]. Available: http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/2100 ↵ [ii] Chemical disaster victims await compensation. 2016. [Online]. Available: http://westcapenews.com/?p=2811 ↵ [iii] Chemical disaster victims await compensation. 2016. [Online]. Available: http://westcapenews.com/?p=2811 ↵ [iv] Batterman, S., Cairncross, E. & Huang, Y. L. 2016. Estimation and Evaluation of Exposures from a Large Sulfur Fire in South Africa. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12720398_Estimation_and_Evaluation_of_Exposures_from_a_Large_Sulfur_Fire_in_South_Africa ↵