Czech region declares state of emergency after 'world's largest' benzene contamination

In the Czech region of Olomouc, an emergency has been imposed one month after a train derailment.

Czech region declares state of emergency after 'world's largest' benzene contamination

If a person drinks water contaminated with benzene at high levels, even for a short time, they may experience drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, confusion, rapid heart rate, vomiting and stomach irritation, tremors or convulsions

It should accelerate the remediation of contaminated areas.

Due to a benzene leak.

Environmental emergency in Czech Republic due to benzene contamination near Poland

The Czech government is calling it the largest contamination of its kind in the world, involving benzene, a toxic, carcinogenic substance used in plastics, dyes, detergents, and pesticides.

The redevelopment of the area around Hustopečí nad Bečvou in Přerovsko due to the spread of toxic benzene will take months. However, experts have not yet fully agreed on its exact course, since it is an unprecedented event. This was stated by Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík (KUD-ČSL) in the Czech TV programme Questions by Václav Moravec. According to him, to restore traffic, it will be necessary to move part of the railway line nearby.