A container holder releases toxic gases off Victoria, Canada

The “Zim Kingston”, which transports 52 tons of chemicals used in the mining industry, is anchored off the city of Victoria in British Columbia, border maritime area between Canada and the United States.

Le Monde with AFP and Reuters

A fire, Saturday, October 23, on containers aboard the Zim Kingston, a cargo carrying chemicals anchored off the city of Victoria, British Columbia, in the Strait Juan de Fuca which marks The maritime boundary between Canada and the United States, according to the maritime follow-up website Marinetraffic

New: Canadian Coast Guard Now Says Six Containers on The MV Zim Kingston are we fire. 16/21 crew evacuated from the … https://t.co/jtc1qvh8kh

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On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the Canadian coast guards have evacuated 16 people from the container holder “after a fire broke out in ten containers” and releases toxic gas, without the situation with risks. For the lands on the ground, affirmed the authorities Sunday. “No injuries were reported,” said Sunday, Danos Shipping Co, the company that manages the container carrier, In a press release at the Reuters press agency .

#gccendirect: the NGCC Cape Calvert and the NGCC Cape Naden have evacuated 16 people from the m / v container carrier … https://t.co/8hrau1kdgl //p>- GardecoieCan (@ gardecostièrecan)

“An emergency zone has been put in place on [a nautical mile] around the ship while fire-fighting operations are underway. There is currently no risk to the safety of people On the ground, but the situation will continue to be monitored, “she said.

“The fire remains a dynamic event and an incident command post has been introduced to manage the situation. Stakeholders mobilize to fight the fire and recover containers who have detached from the ship Friday,” has also The Coast Guard is known. The origin of the fire was not yet known on Sunday.

“The ship was carrying more than 52,000 kg of xanthates, including potassium amylxanthate, housed in two of the fire containers aboard the ship. This substance is classified by the US government as spontaneously combustible. The amylxanthate of potassium is also toxic “, reports the site of Radio-Canada , citing the Coast Guard. These chemicals are used by the mining industry.

According to Radio-Canada, “[Zim Kingston] was mistreated by a rough sea Friday and lost its merchandise about 70 km from the island of Vancouver and the Washington State”, as well as 40 containers In the Pacific as Canadian coast guards and their American counterparts are trying to find again.

/Media reports.