A serious traffic accident occurred on the Nairobi – Nakuru highway in Kenya on the afternoon of July 20th, overturning a truck carrying highly toxic sodium cyanide, also known as cyanide. Alarmingly, immediately after the truck overturned, local residents flocked to the scene to loot, disregarding the potential danger from this hazardous cargo.
Scene of overturned truck in Kenya with locals near toxic chemical drums
Looting After Truck Accidents and Dangerous Ignorance
According to local sources, many residents approached the overturned truck not just out of curiosity but also with the intention to loot. They took away numerous containers of chemicals, unaware of the danger of cyanide. This action has caused great concern among Kenyan authorities about the risk of mass poisoning.
Looting after truck overturn accidents is not uncommon in many countries, especially in Africa. However, this incident is particularly serious due to the involvement of an extremely dangerous poison, directly threatening the lives of citizens.
Cause of Truck Overturn and Emergency Response from Authorities
The exact cause of the truck overturn is still under investigation. Information about the driver’s condition has not yet been released. Meanwhile, the Kenyan Ministry of Environment quickly issued an emergency announcement, urging residents to immediately report to the police if they find any chemical containers related to the accident.
A representative of the Ministry of Environment emphasized: “People must absolutely not touch the substances inside the containers. It is a white granular substance.” The Kenyan Ministry of Health also warned that only personnel equipped with specialized protective gear are allowed to approach this hazardous chemical.
Local authorities warn of chemical hazards after truck accident
Cyanide – Highly Toxic Chemical and Rapid Death Risk
“Sodium cyanide prevents the body from absorbing oxygen, leading to rapid death if ingested or inhaled in a certain amount. Symptoms of poisoning include headache, dizziness, rapid breathing, nausea, and convulsions,” a health official warned.
According to experts, ingesting just about 50mg of cyanide (equivalent to a green pea) or inhaling 0.2% cyanide gas can cause immediate death for a healthy person. This poison acts extremely quickly and powerfully on the respiratory and nervous systems, causing acute poisoning.
In addition, cyanide also causes serious pollution to groundwater and soil, persisting in the environment for a long time and accumulating in the food chain, causing unpredictable long-term consequences.
Lesson Learned from the Truck Overturn and Looting Incident
The truck overturn carrying cyanide in Kenya is a costly warning about the dangers of looting after accidents, especially when the goods are unidentified substances or have hazard warnings. Ignorance and greed can lead to extremely tragic consequences.
Functional agencies and the media need to strengthen communication and raise public awareness about the dangers of toxic chemicals and the legal consequences of looting, contributing to building a more civilized and safer society.
