Fire is likely to have discharged polluting chemicals into water
Bathing and recreational fishing between the cement pier and the mouth of the Douro river in Porto were banned today, as a precaution, due to the discharge of polluting materials caused by the fire at Auto Sueco (part of the Nors group).
“A notice has been published banning bathing and recreational fishing along the entire stretch from the cement pier (near the Casa d’Oro restaurant) to the mouth of the river Douro as a precaution”, the captain of Porto and local commander of the Douro and Leixões Maritime Police confirms.
Speaking to journalists at Largo do Calém, where work is underway to clean waters due to the discharge of polluting materials from yesterday’s fire, Silva Lampreia said that the ban, covering an area of around 2.7 kms, “does not affect any river beach” upstream.
Porto City Council is trying to minimise the effects of the polluting discharge, and expects to complete the clean-up work by tomorrow (Wednesday).
The fire affected the offices of Auto Sueco Portugal, Aftermarket Portugal and Amplitude Seguros, all companies in the Nors group. It was a ‘major incident’ yesterday, taking hours to extinguish and requiring the closure of various local roads. The blaze completely gutted the building on Porto’s industrial estate. For now, its causes are being investigated. Roughly 140 workers were all unhurt, and have reportedly had their salaries assured.
Source: LUSA
