RSIPF Fire Service support government agencies to remove dangerous chemicals at old Taiwan farm in east of Honiara

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Fire Services Department supported other government agencies to remove dangerous chemicals stored at the old Taiwanese farm, east of Honiara this week.

The RSIPF Fire Services Department has supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology-Environment Division and Honiara City Waste Management to remove the chemicals to a safer location.

Director Dekyi said those chemicals are very dangerous and if not careful, they can burn human skin, cause damage to the respiratory systems and cause lung cancer. Some chemicals removed from the 20-foot container are phosphorus acid, copper sulphate and Borax Pentahydrate.

Superintendent Dekyi said since the Fire Service Department has the capability to deal with chemicals we form part of the operation and safely remove the chemicals to a new safe location within the same vicinity. We store it separately just in case the chemical mix causes some damage.

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is coordinating the whole operation.