Venezuela Spills; La Guaira, Venezuela

La Guaira, Venezuela | 2000-Jan-05

Initial Notification: Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team are on-scene in Venezuela at the request of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and have requested support from NOAA HAZMAT to evaluate potential hazards associated with 91 tons of potassium permanganate which is buried under mud beneath a warehouse. It is believed that some of the potassium permanganate is loose material and some is stored in drums. Other potentially reactive chemicals are involved in the spill, but details are not yet known. NOAA HAZMAT will provide information related to health and safety, fire and ignition hazards, and explosion hazards for the potassium permanganate. HAZMAT has also been requested to provide tide, currents, and weather information for the Caracas area and to the west, if available. USCG district 7.