Wednesfield factory evacuated after major acid spill

A factory in Wednesfield has been evacuated after a tank holding more than 30,000 litres of corrosive acid collapsed.

Emergency services at the scene at Watery Lane Industrial Estate

Around 40 staff have been evacuated from Edward Howell Galvanizers on Watery Lane Industrial Estate as a result of the hydrochloric acid spill.

Twenty firefighters, paramedics, Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water staff are all dealing with the incident. The tank contained an estimated 35,000 litres of diluted hydrochloric acid and collapsed at around 8.45am this morning.

The scene of the incident at Edward Howell Galvanizers

Fire Service HQ station commander Steve Horley confirmed that some acid had drained into a brook 200 metres away, but Severn Trent said that there was no risk to the water supply.

No-one was injured and the cause of the collapse is currently unknown.

Article source: Express & Star