CRO ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION MINISTER ON LEAKING OUT OF SULPHURIC ACID ONTO ROAD

ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) - Croatian Urban Planning and Environment Protection Minister Bozo Kovacevic informed reporters Saturday morning of measures taken to alleviate consequences of yesterday's accident when a cistern overturned and 7,500 litres of sulphuric acid leaked out onto the Plitvice road (50 km south of Zagreb). After the Croatian Information Centre informed me of the accident I alarmed our inspectorate and the toxicological institute, whose experts are estimating the damage, Minister Kovacevic said. The Minister also informed the water inspectorate. The acid leaked out about 400 metres away from a water supply tower for the Slunj region. According to the Croatian Information Centre, water inspector Zeljko Makvic ordered the discontinuation of the water supply from the tower, as well as the permanent monitoring of the quality of water. Minister Kovacevic added this was only a preventive measure and expressed a belief there would be no serious consequences. The accident on the Plitvice road (running from Karlovac to Dalmatia) occurred at 3:50PM. The cistern, containing 8,000 litres of sulphuric acid, overturned onto its side and slid along the road. About 7,000 litters of sulphuric acid leaked out of the overturned cistern onto the Plitvice road Friday night. A professional fire-fighting team from Karlovac decontaminated the area with lime and foam, while the residents of nearby Slunj have been warned against drinking town water. (hina) it